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T ABLE OF CONTENTS
RANKINGS & PROJECTIONS REVISIONS.................................................................................... 3
OVERALL RANKINGS........................................................................................................... 5
RANKINGS BY POSITION..................................................................................................... 7
QUARTERBACK SEASON PROFILES......................................................................................... 9
RUNNING BACK SEASON PROFILES......................................................................................... 13
WIDE RECEIVER SEASON PROFILES........................................................................................ 18
TIGHT END SEASON PROFILES............................................................................................... 26
KICKER SEASON PROFILES................................................................................................... 29
TEAM DEFENSE SEASON PROFILES......................................................................................... 33
IDP LINEBACKER & D-LINE SEASON PROFILES............................................................................ 37
IDP DEFENSIVE BACK SEASON PROFILES.................................................................................. 39
SLEEPERS & UNDERVALUED PLAYERS..................................................................................... 41
BUSTS & OVERVALUED PLAYERS........................................................................................... 44
IMPACT ROOKIES.............................................................................................................. 46
POSITION BATTLES............................................................................................................ 48
TEAM DEPTH CHARTS........................................................................................................ 52
TEAM PASS/RUN TENDENCIES............................................................................................... 56
TEAM RED-ZONE TENDENCIES............................................................................................... 57
PLAYER STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES....................................................................................... 58
PLAYER GRAPEVINE........................................................................................................... 80

2

RANKINGS & PROJECTIONS REVISIONS
PLAYER (TEAM)
Matt Flynn (SEA)
Russell Wilson (SEA)
Eddie Royal (SD )
Mike Wallace (PIT)
Michael Floyd (ARZ)
Rashad Jennings (JAC)
Sam Bradford (STL)
Matt Moore (MIA)
Ryan Tannehill (MIA)
Matt Hasselbeck (TEN)
Jake Locker (TEN)
Vincent Brown (SD )
Dwayne Bowe (KC )
Rashard Mendenhall (PIT)
Shane Vereen (NE )
Stevan Ridley (NE )
Kevin Kolb (ARZ)
John Skelton (ARZ)
Donald Brown (IND)
Jahvid Best (DET)
Jason Witten (DAL)
Brian Hartline (MIA)
Legedu Naanee (MIA)
Chad Ochocinco (FA )
Cedric Benson (GB )
Matt Moore (MIA)
David Garrard (MIA)
Ronnie Brown (SD )
Ryan Mathews (SD )
Trent Richardson (CLE)
Taiwan Jones (OAK)
Mike Goodson (OAK)
Terrell Owens (SEA)
Hakeem Nicks (NYG)
Dwayne Bowe (KC )
Miles Austin (DAL)
Antonio Bryant (FA )
Mark Ingram (NO )
Matt Moore (MIA)
David Garrard (MIA)
Greg Childs (MIN)
Peyton Manning (DEN)
Braylon Edwards (SEA)
Ed Dickson (BAL)
Dennis Pitta (BAL)
Antonio Bryant (SEA)
Bryant Johnson (HOU)

REVISION
Downgrade - could lose starting QB job; elbow injury
Upgrade - likely to win starting QB job
Upgrade - Vincent Brown out at least eight weeks with broken ankle.
Upgrade - expected to end hold out
Downgrade - fell to No. 4 on the depth chart
Upgrade - Maurice Jones-Drew hold continues
Downgrade - lingering ankle injury
Downgrade - lost starting QB job to Ryan Tannehill
Upgrade - won starting QB job
Downgrade - lost starting QB job to Jake Locker
Updgrade - won starting QB job
Downgrade - out eight weeks with broken ankle
Upgrade - ended hold out
Upgrade - activated off PUP list
Upgrade - Stevan Ridley out with hamstring injury
Downgrade - injured hamstring
Downgrade - expected to lose starting QB job
Upgrade - expected to win starting QB job
Upgrade - won starting RB job
Downgrade - slow recovery from concussion
Downgrade - out indefinitely with spleen injury
Upgrade - Chad Johnson released
Upgrade - Chad Johnson released
Downgrade - released by Dolphins
Upgrade - signed with Packers
Upgrade - David Garrard out four weeks with knee injury
Downgrade - out four weeks with knee injury
Upgraded - Ryan Mathews out 4-6 with broken clavicle
Downgrade - out 4-6 weeks with broken clavicle
Downgrade - knee injury
Upgrade - Mike Goodson out indefinitely with neck injury
Downgrade - out indefinitely with neck injury
Upgrade - signed with Seattle
Upgrade - injured good appears healthy
Downgrade - did not report to camp due to holdout
Downgrade - out at least as week with hamstring injury
Downgrade - released by Seattle
Upgrade - injured knee appears healthy
Downgrade - likely to lose QB battle to David Garrard
Upgrade - early favorite to win QB job over Matt Moore
Out for season - knee injury
Downgrade - arm appears to lack strength
Upgrade - signed with Seattle
Upgrade - Dennis Pitta out with broken hand
Downgrade - out 4-6 weeks with broken hand
Upgrade - signed with Seattle
Upgrade - signed with Houston

DATE
Aug. 24
Aug. 24
Aug. 24
Aug. 21
Aug. 21
Aug. 21
Aug. 20
Aug. 20
Aug. 20
Aug. 20
Aug. 20
Aug. 18
Aug. 18
Aug. 17
Aug. 16
Aug. 16
Aug. 16
Aug. 16
Aug. 15
Aug. 15
Aug. 15
Aug. 12
Aug. 12
Aug. 12
Aug. 11
Aug. 10
Aug. 10
Aug. 9
Aug. 9
Aug. 8
Aug. 7
Aug. 7
Aug. 6
Aug. 6
Aug. 6
Aug. 6
Aug. 5
Aug. 5
Aug. 5
Aug. 5
Aug. 5
Aug. 1
July 31
July 30
July 30
July 29
July 26
3

PLAYER (TEAM)
Rashad Jennings (JAC)
Mike Wallace (PIT)
Joseph Addai (FA )
Maurice Jones-Drew (JAC)
Kenny Britt (TEN)
Mikel Leshoure (DET)
Robert Turbin (SEA)
Marshawn Lynch (SEA)
Dez Bryant (DAL)
Elvis Dumervil (DEN)
Mike Williams (SEA)
Derrick Ward
D.J. Williams (DEN)

REVISION
Upgrade - Maurice Jones Drew holding out
Downgrade - did not report to camp due to holdout
Downgrade - released by Patriots
Downgrade - did not report to camp due to holdout
Downgrade - knee scope, DUI
Upgrade - good health
Upgrade - Marshawn Lynch arrest
Downgrade - DUI arrest
Downgrade - assault charge
Aggravated - assault charge
Released by Seahawks
Retired
Downgrade - myriad offseason problems; suspended six games

DATE
July 26
July 25
July 25
July 25
July 20
July 17
July 17
July 17
July 16
July 15
July 13
July 4
June 22

4

OVERALL RANKINGS
NOTE: The number following a player’s position is his rank within his position. For example, Calvin Johnson is the top-ranked wide receiver (WR1), while Larry Fitzgerald ranks second (WR2) and Roddy White third (WR3), etc.
= Rising
= Falling

1. Arian Foster, RB1, HOU
2. Ray Rice, RB2, BAL
3. LeSean McCoy, RB3, PHI
4. Calvin Johnson, WR1, DET
5. Aaron Rodgers, QB1, GB
6. Chris Johnson, RB4, TEN
7. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB5, JAC
8. Larry Fitzgerald, WR2, ARI
9. Drew Brees, QB2, NO
10. Darren McFadden, RB6, OAK
11. Tom Brady, QB3, NE
12. Cam Newton, QB4, CAR
13. Jimmy Graham, TE1, NO
14. Matthew Stafford, QB5, DET16.
15. Trent Richardson, RB7, CLE
16. Rob Gronkowski, TE2, NE
17. Adrian Peterson, RB8, MIN
18. Roddy White, WR3, ATL
19. Matt Forte, RB9, CHI
20. Victor Cruz, WR4, NYG
21. Brandon Marshall, WR5, CHI
22. DeMarco Murray, RB10, DAL
23. Andre Johnson, WR6, HOU
24. Greg Jennings, WR7, GB
25. Hakeem Nicks, WR8, NYG
26. Jamaal Charles, RB12, KC
27. A.J. Green, WR9, CIN
28. Ryan Mathews, RB11, SD
29. Wes Welker, WR10, NE
30. Julio Jones, WR11, ATL
31. Fred Jackson, RB13, BUF
32. Steve Smith, WR12, CAR
33. Marshawn Lynch, RB14, SEA
34. Doug Martin, RB15, TAM
35. Michael Turner, RB16, ATL
36. Demaryius Thomas, WR13, DEN
37. Steven Jackson, RB17, STL
38. Mike Wallace, WR14, PIT
39. Jordy Nelson, WR15, GB
40. Jeremy Maclin, WR16, PHI
41. Darren Sproles, RB18, NO
42. Marques Colston, WR17, NO
43. Antonio Gates, TE3, SD
44. Miles Austin, WR18, DAL
45. Percy Harvin, WR19, MIN
46. Michael Vick, QB6, PHI
47. Aaron Hernandez, TE4, NE
48. Dwayne Bowe, WR20, KC

49. Brandon Lloyd, WR21, NE
50. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB19, NYG
51. Reggie Bush, RB20, MIA
52. Eli Manning, QB7, NYG
53. Tony Romo, QB8, DAL
54. Philip Rivers, QB9, SD
55. Frank Gore, RB21, SF
56. Vernon Davis, TE5, SF
57. Fred Davis, TE6, WAS
58. Peyton Manning, QB11 DEN
59. Roy Helu, RB22, WAS
60. Jermichael Finley, TE7, GB
61. Dez Bryant, WR22, DAL
62. Jay Cutler, QB11, CHI
63. Robert Griffin III, QB12, WAS
64. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB23, CIN
65. Vincent Jackson, WR23, TAM
66. Antonio Brown, WR24, PIT
67. Steve Johnson, WR25, BUF
68. Chris Wells, RB24, ARI
69. Brandon Pettigrew, TE8, DET
70. DeSean Jackson, WR26, PHI
71. Ben Roethlisberger, QB13, PIT
72. Jonathan Stewart, RB25, CAR
73. Eric Decker, WR27, DEN
74. Shonn Greene, RB26, NYJ
75. Matt Ryan, QB14, ATL
76. Robert Meachem, WR28, SD
77. Isaac Redman, RB27, PIT
78. Torrey Smith, WR29, BAL
79. Peyton Hillis, RB28, KC
80. Kenny Britt, WR30, TEN
81. Willis McGahee, RB29, DEN
82. Reggie Wayne, WR31, IND
83. Sidney Rice, WR32, SEA
84. Donald Brown, RB30, IND
85. DeAngelo Williams, RB31, CAR
86. Pierre Garcon, WR33, WAS
87. Santonio Holmes, WR34, NYJ
88. Mikel Leshoure, RB32, DET
89. Mark Ingram, RB33, NO
90. Shane Vereen, RB34, NE
91. Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR35, OAK
92. Michael Bush, RB35, CHI
93. David Wilson, RB36, NYG
94. Greg Little, WR36, CLE
95. Justin Blackmon, WR37, JAC
96. C.J. Spiller, RB37, BUF

97. Denarius Moore, WR38, OAK
98. Tony Gonzalez, TE9, ATL
99. Mike Williams, WR39, TAM
100. Jason Witten, TE10, DAL
101. Jacob Tamme, TE11, DEN
102. Jahvid Best, RB38, DET
103. Anquan Boldin, WR40, BAL
104. Malcom Floyd, WR41, SD
105. Pierre Thomas, RB39, NO
106. Matt Schaub, QB15, HOU
107. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB40, ATL
108. Ben Tate, RB41, HOU
109. Santana Moss, WR42, WAS
110. Ronnie Brown, RB42, SD
111. James Starks, RB43, GB
112. Rashad Jennings, RB44, JAC
113. Ronnie Hillman, RB45, DEN
114. Lance Moore, WR43, NO
115. Michael Crabtree, WR44, SF
116. Carson Palmer, QB16, OAK
117. Josh Freeman, QB17, TAM
118. Andy Dalton, QB18, CIN
119. Tim Hightower, RB46, WAS
120. Owen Daniels, TE12, HOU
121. Jermaine Gresham, TE13, CIN
122. Ryan Williams, RB47, ARI
123. Andrew Luck, QB19, IND
124. Brent Celek, TE14, PHI
125. Nate Washington, WR45, TEN
126. LeGarrette Blount, RB48, TAM
127. Jared Cook, TE15, TEN
128. Alshon Jeffery, WR46, CHI
129. Coby Fleener, TE16, IND
130. Joe Flacco, QB20, BAL
131. Laurent Robinson, WR47, JAC
132. Doug Baldwin, WR48, SEA
133. Nate Burleson, WR49, DET
134. Randy Moss, WR50, SF
135. Rashard Mendenhall, RB49, PIT
136. Dustin Keller, TE17, NYJ
137. Titus Young, WR51, DET
138. Toby Gerhart, RB50, MIN
139. Felix Jones, RB51 DAL
140. Mario Manningham, WR52, SF
141. Davone Bess, WR53, MIA
142. Alex Green, RB52, GB
143. Mike Tolbert, RB53, CAR
144. Daniel Thomas, RB54, MIA
5

OVERALL RANKINGS (cont...)

145.
146.
147.
148.
149.
150.
151.
152.
153.
154.
155.
156.
157.
158.
159.
160.
161.
162.
163.
164.
165.
166.
167.
168.
169.
170.
171.
172.
173.
174.

Stevan Ridley, RB55, NE
Reuben Randle, WR54, NYG
San Francisco 49ers, DST1
Dallas Clark, TE18, TAM
Isaiah Pead, RB56, STL
Austin Collie, WR55, IND
LaMichael James, RB57, SF
Jake Locker, QB21, TEN
Brian Quick, WR56, STL
Greg Olsen, TE19, CAR
Joe McKnight, RB58, NYJ
Kyle Rudolph, TE20, MIN
Kendall Wright, WR57, TEN
Jacoby Ford, WR58, OAK
Danny Amendola, WR59, STL
Robert Turbin, RB59, SEA
Cedric Benson, RB60, GB
Stephen Hill, WR60, NYJ
James Jones, WR61, GB
Jon Baldwin, WR62, KC
Brian Hartline, WR63, MIA
Eddie Royal, WR64, SD
Jonathan Dwyer, RB61, PIT
Mike Goodson, RB62, OAK
Brandon Jacobs, RB63, SF
Jerome Simpson, WR65, MIN
Delone Carter, RB64, IND
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB22, BUF
Mark Sanchez, QB23, NYJ
Earl Bennett, WR66, CHI

175.
176.
177.
178.
179.
180.
181.
182.
183.
184.
185.
186.
187.
188.
189.
190.
191.
192.
193.
194.
195.
196.
197.
198.
199.
200.
201.
202.
203.
204.

Pittsburgh Steelers, DST2
Sam Bradford, QB24, STL
Taiwan Jones, RB65, OAK
Bernard Scott, RB66, CIN
David Nelson, WR67, BUF
Baltimore Ravens, DST3
Chicago Bears, DST4
Michael Floyd, WR68, ARI
Matt Cassel, QB25, KC
Devery Henderson, WR69
Ed Dickson, TE21, BAL
Evan Royster, RB67, WAS
Chris Rainey, RB68, PIT
Joe Adams, WR70, CAR
Green Bay Packers, DST5
Philadelphia Eagles, DST6
Mohamed Sanu, WR71, CIN
Alex Smith, QB26, SF
Kendall Hunter, RB69, SF
Kellen Winslow, TE22, SEA
Tony Moeaki, TE23, KC
Heath Miller, TE24, PIT
Devin Hester, WR72, CHI
Kevin Smith, RB70, DET
Emmanuel Sanders, WR73, PIT
Seattle Seahawks, DST7
Josh Morgan, WR74, WAS
Brandon LaFell, WR75, CAR
Houston Texans, DST8
Kevin Walter, WR76, HOU

205. Dexter McCluster, WR77, KC
206. Russell Wilson, QB27, SEA
207. Deion Branch, WR78, NE
208. Christian Ponder, QB28, MIN
209. Mason Crosby, K1, GB
210. Golden Tate, WR79, SEA
211. Montario Hardesty, RB71, CLE
212. Chris Polk, RB72, PHI
213. Dion Lewis, RB73, PHI
214. Randall Cobb, WR80, GB
215. Jordan Shipley, WR81, CIN
216. Sebastian Janikowski, K2, OAK
217. Early Doucet, WR82, ARI
218. David Akers, K3, SF
219. Jabar Gaffney, WR83, NE
220. DeVier Posey, WR84, HOU
221. Mike Thomas, WR85, JAC
222. Stephen Gostkowski, K4, NE
223. Leonard Hankerson, WR86, WAS
224. Martellus Bennett, TE25, NYG
225. Plaxico Burress, WR87, NYJ
226. Mohamed Massaquoi, WR88, CLE
227. Steve Breaston, WR89, KC
228. Marcedes Lewis, TE26, JAC
229. Dan Bailey, K5, DAL
230. Legedu Naanee, WR, 90, MIA
231. Lance Kendricks, TE28, STL
232. Jason Hanson, K6, DET
233. Nate Kaeding, K7, SD
234. Scott Chandler, TE29, BUF

6

RANKINGS BY POSITION
QUARTERBACK
1. Aaron Rodgers, GB
2. Drew Brees, NO
3. Tom Brady, NE
4. Cam Newton, CAR
5. Matthew Stafford, DET
6. Michael Vick, PHI
7. Eli Manning, NYG
8. Tony Romo, DAL
9. Philip Rivers, SD
10. Peyton Manning, DEN
11. Jay Cutler, CHI
12. Robert Griffin III, WAS
13. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
14. Matt Ryan, ATL
15. Matt Schaub, HOU
16. Carson Palmer, OAK
17. Josh Freeman, TAM
18. Andy Dalton, CIN
19. Andrew Luck, IND
20. Joe Flacco, BAL
21. Jake Locker, TEN
22. Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF
23. Mark Sanchez, NYJ
24. Sam Bradford, STL
25. Matt Cassel, KC
26. Alex Smith, SF
27. Russell Wilson, SEA
28. Christian Ponder, MIN
29. Brandon Weeden, CLE
30. Ryan Tannehill, MIA
31. John Skelton, ARI
32. Tim Tebow, NYJ
33. Chad Henne, JAC
34. Matt Hasselbeck, TEN
35. Blaine Gabbert, JAC
36. Matt Moore, MIA
37. Kyle Orton, DAL
38. Kevin Kolb, ARI
39. Joe Webb, MIN
40. Matt Flynn, SEA

RUNNING BACK
1. Arian Foster, HOU
2. Ray Rice, BAL
3. LeSean McCoy, PHI
4. Chris Johnson, TEN
5. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC
6. Darren McFadden, OAK

7. Trent Richardson, CLE
8. Adrian Peterson, MIN
9. Matt Forte, CHI
10. DeMarco Murray, DAL
11. Jamaal Charles, KC
12. Ryan Mathews, SD
13. Fred Jackson, BUF
14. Marshawn Lynch, SEA
15. Doug Martin, TAM
16. Michael Turner, ATL
17. Steven Jackson, STL
18. Darren Sproles, NO
19. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG
20. Reggie Bush, MIA
21. Frank Gore, SF
22. Roy Helu, WAS
23. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, CIN
24. Chris Wells, ARI
25. Jonathan Stewart, CAR
26. Shonn Greene, NYJ
27. Isaac Redman, PIT
28. Peyton Hillis, KC
29. Willis McGahee, DEN
30. Donald Brown, IND
31. DeAngelo Williams, CAR
32. Mikel Leshoure, DET
33. Mark Ingram, NO
34. Shane Vereen, NE
35. Michael Bush, CHI
36. David Wilson, NYG
37. C.J. Spiller, BUF
38. Jahvid Best, DET
39. Pierre Thomas, NO
40. Jacquizz Rodgers, ATL
41. Ben Tate, HOU
42. Ronnie Brown, SD
43. James Starks, GB
44. Rashad Jennings, JAC
45. Ronnie Hillman, DEN
46. Tim Hightower, WAS
47. Ryan Williams, ARI
48. LeGarrette Blount, TAM
49. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT
50. Toby Gerhart, MIN
51. Felix Jones, DAL
52. Alex Green, GB
53. Mike Tolbert, CAR
54. Daniel Thomas, MIA
55. Stevan Ridley, NE
55. Isaiah Pead, STL
57. LaMichael James, SF

58. Joe McKnight, NYJ
59. Robert Turbin, SEA
60. Cedric Benson, GB
61. Jonathan Dwyer, PIT
62. Mike Goodson, OAK
63. Brandon Jacobs, SF
64. Delone Carter, IND
65. Bernard Scott, CIN
66. Taiwan Jones, OAK
67. Evan Royster, WAS
68. Chris Rainey, PIT
69. Kendall Hunter, SF
70. Kevin Smith, DET
71. Montario Hardesty, CLE
72. Chris Polk, PHI
73. Dion Lewis, PHI

WIDE RECEIVER
1. Calvin Johnson, DET
2. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI
3. Roddy White, ATL
4. Victor Cruz, NYG
5. Brandon Marshall, CHI
6. Andre Johnson, HOU
7. Greg Jennings, GB
8. Hakeem Nicks, NYG
9. A.J. Green, CIN
10. Wes Welker, NE
11. Julio Jones, ATL
12. Steve Smith, CAR
13. Demaryius Thomas, DEN
14. Mike Wallace, PIT
15. Jordy Nelson, GB
16. Jeremy Maclin, PHI
17. Marques Colston, NO
18. Miles Austin, DAL
19. Percy Harvin, MIN
20. Dwayne Bowe, KC
21. Brandon Lloyd, NE
22. Dez Bryant, DAL
23. Vincent Jackson, TAM
24. Antonio Brown, PIT
25. Steve Johnson, BUF
26. DeSean Jackson, PHI
27. Eric Decker, DEN
28. Robert Meachem, SD
29. Torrey Smith, BAL
30. Kenny Britt, TEN
31. Reggie Wayne, IND
32. Sidney Rice, SEA

33. Pierre Garcon, WAS
34. Santonio Holmes, NYJ
35. Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK
36. Greg Little, CLE
37. Justin Blackmon, JAC
38. Denarius Moore, OAK
39. Mike Williams, TAM
40. Anquan Boldin, BAL
41. Malcom Floyd, SD
42. Santana Moss, WAS
43. Lance Moore, NO
44. Michael Crabtree, SF
45. Nate Washington, TEN
46. Alshon Jeffery, CHI
47. Laurent Robinson, JAC
48. Doug Baldwin, SEA
49. Nate Burleson, DET
50. Randy Moss, SF
51. Titus Young, DET
52. Mario Manningham, SF
53. Davone Bess, MIA
54. Reuben Randle, NYG
55. Austin Collie, IND
56. Brian Quick, STL
57. Kendall Wright, TEN
58. Jacoby Ford, OAK
69. Danny Amendola, STL
60. Stephen Hill, NYJ
61. James Jones, GB
62. Jon Baldwin, KC
63. Brian Hartline, MIA
64. Eddie Royal, SD
65. Jerome Simpson, MIN
66. Earl Bennett, CHI
67. David Nelson, BUF
68. Michael Floyd, ARI
69. Devery Henderson, NO
70. Joe Adams, CAR
71. Mohamed Sanu, CIN
72. Devin Hester, CHI
73. Emmanuel Sanders, PIT
74. Josh Morgan, WAS
75. Brandon LaFell, CAR
76. Kevin Walter, HOU
77. Dexter McCluster, KC
78. Deion Branch, NE
79. Golden Tate, SEA
80. Randall Cobb, GB
81. Jordan Shipley, CIN
82. Early Doucet, ARI
83. Jabar Gaffney, NE
7

RANKINGS BY POSITION (cont...)

84. DeVier Posey, HOU
85. Mike Thomas, JAC
86. Leonard Hankerson, WAS
87. Plaxico Burress, NYJ
88. Mohamed Massaquoi, CLE
89. Steve Breaston, KC
90. Legedu Naanee, MIA

TIGHT END
1. Jimmy Graham, NO
2. Rob Gronkowski, NE
3. Antonio Gates, SD
4. Aaron Hernandez, NE
5. Vernon Davis, SF
6. Fred Davis, WAS
7. Jermichael Finley, GB
8. Brandon Pettigrew, DET
9. Tony Gonzalez, ATL
10. Jason Witten, DAL
11. Jacob Tamme, DEN
12. Owen Daniels, HOU
13. Jermaine Gresham, CIN
14. Brent Celek, PHI
15. Jared Cook, TEN
16. Coby Fleener, IND
17. Dustin Keller, NYJ
18. Dallas Clark, TAM
19. Greg Olsen, CAR
20. Kyle Rudolph, MIN
21. Ed Dickson, BAL
22. Kellen Winslow, SEA
23. Tony Moeaki, KC
24. Heath Miller, PIT
25. Martellus Bennett, NYG
26. Marcedes Lewis, JAC
27. Lance Kendricks, ST
28. Scott Chandler, BUF
29. Robert Housler, ARI
30. Todd Heap, ARI

KICKER
1. Mason Crosby, GB
2. Sebastian Janikowski, OAK
3. David Akers, SF
4. Stephen Gostkowski, NE
5. Dan Bailey, DAL
6. Jason Hanson, DET
7. Nate Kaeding, SD
8. Matt Prater, DEN
9. Robbie Gould, CHI
10. Alex Henery, PHI

11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.

Rob Bironas, TEN
Matt Bryant, ATL
Neil Rackers, WAS
Billy Cundiff, BAL
Garrett Hartley, NO
Mike Nugent, CIN
Lawrence Tynes, NYG
Randy Bullock, HOU
Rian Lindell, BUF
Dan Carpenter, MIA
Shaun Suisham, PIT
Ryan Succop, KC
Steven Hauschka, SEA
Connor Barth, TAM
Jay Feely, ARI
Phil Dawson, CLE
Josh Brown, NYJ
Greg Zuerlein, STL
Josh Scobee, JAC
Adam Vinatieri, IND
Justin Medlock, CAR
Nick Folk, NYJ
Blair Walsh, MIN
Ryan Longwell, MIN
John Kasay, NO
Olindo Mare, CAR

TEAM DEFENSE
1. San Francisco 49ers
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Chicago Bears
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Philadelphia Eagles
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Houston Texans
9. New York Giants
10. New York Jets
11. Detroit Lions
12. New England Patriots
13. Denver Broncos
14. Buffalo Bills
15. Dallas Cowboys
16. Cincinnati Bengals
17. Atlanta Falcons
18. Arizona Cardinals
19. Kansas City Chiefs
20. Miami Dolphins
21. San Diego Chargers
22. Tennessee Titans
23. Cleveland Browns
24. Minnesota Vikings

25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.

New Orleans Saints
Oakland Raiders
Washington Redskins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carolina Panthers
Jacksonville Jaguars
St. Louis Rams
Indianapolis Colts

IDP - LB & DL
1. Patrick Willis, SF, LB
2. Navorro Bowman, SF, LB
3. Desmond Bishop, GB, LB
4. D'Qwell Jackson, CLE, LB
5. S. Weatherspoon, ATL, LB
6. James Anderson, CAR, LB
7. Ray Lewis, BAL, LB
8. Derrick Johnson, KC, LB
9. Sean Lee, DAL, LB
10. Chad Greenway, MIN, LB
11. Luke Kuechly, CAR, LB
12. James Laurinaitis, STL, LB
13. London Fletcher, WAS, LB
14. Pat Angerer, IND, LB
15. Jon Beason, CAR, LB
16. David Hawthorne, NO, LB
17. Jerod Mayo, NE, LB
18. Karlos Dansby, MIA, LB
19. Curtis Lofton, NO, LB
20. J. Pierre-Paul, NYG, DL
21. Colin McCarthy, TEN, LB
22. Jared Allen, MIN, DL
23. Daryl Washington, ARZ, LB
24. Michael Boley, NYG, LB
25. Justin Tuck, NYG, DL
26. Rolando McClain, OAK, LB
27. Cameron Wake, MIA, LB
28. Tamba Hali, KC, LB
29. Kevin Burnett, MIA, LB
30. Brandon Spikes, NE, LB
31. Brian Cushing, HOU, LB
32. L. Timmons, PIT, LB
33. Nick Barnett, BUF, LB
34. Paul Posluszny, JAC, LB
35. Lance Briggs, CHI, LB
36. James Harrison, PIT, LB
37. Von Miller, DEN, LB
38. Trent Cole, PHI, DL
39. DeMarcus Ware, DAL, LB
40. Brian Urlacher, CHI, LB
41. Rey Maualuga, CIN, LB
42. Stephen Tulloch, DET, LB

43. Justin Smith, SF, DL
44. Jamar Chaney, PHI, LB
45. Takeo Spikes, SD, LB
46. DeAndre Levy, DET, LB
47. K. Wimbley, TEN, LB
48. Mason Foster, TB, LB
49. Clay Matthews, GB, LB
50. E.J. Henderson, FA, LB
51. LaMarr Woodley, PIT, LB

IDP - DEF. BACK
1. George Wilson, BUF
2. Eric Weddle, SD
3. Eric Berry, KC
4. Charles Woodson, GB
5. Charles Tillman, CHI
6. Jason McCourty, TEN
7. Terrell Thomas, NYG
8. Devin McCourty, NE
9. T.J. Ward, CLE
10. Tyvon Branch, OAK
11. Antoine Bethea, IND
12. Roman Harper, NO
13. Charles Godfrey, CAR
14. Jairus Byrd, BUF
15. Kerry Rhodes, ARZ
16. Earl Thomas, SEA
17. Reggie Nelson, CIN
18. Patrick Chung, NE
19. Morgan Burnett, GB
20. Joe Haden, CLE
21. Dawan Landry, JAC
22. Antrel Rolle, NYG
23. Dashon Goldson, SF
24. Quintin Mikell, STL
25. Cortland Finnegan, STL
26. DeAngelo Hall, WAS
27. Glover Quin, HOU
28. LaRon Landry, NYJ
29. Ronde Barber, TB
30. Terence Newman, CIN
31. Nate Clements, CIN
32. Bernard Pollard, BAL
33. Troy Polamalu, PIT
34. Louis Delmas, DET
35. Brent Grimes, ATL
36. Oshiomogho Atogwe, FA
37. Donte Whitner, SF
38. Michael Huff, OAK
39. Patrick Peterson, ARZ
40. Sherrod Martin, CAR
41. Adrian Wilson, ARZ
8

QUARTERBACK SEASON PROFILES
Player Profiles are based on season outlooks and re-ranked as events warrant during training camp.

1. AARON RODGERS, PACKERS
Rodgers was beyond brilliant in 2011, completing 68.3 percent of his passes while averaging 9.2 yards per attempt, resulting in 4,643 yards in just 15 games. What’s even more impressive is that he threw 45 touchdowns on just 502 passes. His top pass catchers from a year ago are all back, with wideouts Greg Jennings and
Jordy Nelson headlining the list after combining for 24 TD in 2011.

2. DREW BREES, SAINTS
Brees set the NFL’s single-season passing record with an absurd
5,476 yards, but the team around him is set to decline in a bad way this year. New Orleans lost its best offensive lineman, guard Carl
Nicks, as a free agent to the in-division Buccaneers, and wide receiver Robert Meachem left for San Diego in free agency. The biggest news, though, is that head coach and play-caller Sean
Payton was suspended for the entirety of the 2012 season due to
New Orleans’ alleged bounty scheme. In an apparently bad mood and without his play-caller and two of his best teammates, it’s easy to see Brees slipping in 2012.

3. TOM BRADY, PATRIOTS
Brady didn’t throw 50 touchdown passes in 2011, but his year was arguably just as good as his historic 2007 season. Heading into
2012, there isn’t any reason to expect Brady to slow. The entirely unstoppable tight-end duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron
Hernandez returns and wideout Wes Welker is back after catching
122 passes and posting career highs in yardage (1,569) and touchdowns (nine.)

4. CAM NEWTON, PANTHERS
After he completed just 42.1 percent of his passes and averaged just 5.3 yards per attempt in the preseason, Newton’s total of 854 yards and three touchdowns passing and 71 yards and two touchdowns rushing in Weeks 1 and 2 couldn’t have been much more shocking. If there were something more shocking, it was that he hardly slowed down. By season’s end he threw for 4,051 yards (7.8
YPA), 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, while running for 706 yards (5.6 YPC) and 14 touchdowns. It wouldn’t surprise us if
Newton were to regress slightly as a fantasy option, particularly due to a drop in rushing scores, but it’s also reasonable to expect some improvement as a passer in Year 2.

5. MATT STAFFORD, LIONS
Stafford might have the lowest floor of the QBs in this range due to durability concerns. Even if he’s a relative risk, his upside is too high for him to be listed any lower. Stafford is a good bet to lead the league in passing attempts, while playing in an offense that might have the NFL’s best receiver, as well as four or five other productive targets. As long as he (and Calvin Johnson) stay healthy, Stafford is a virtual lock to put up big numbers.

6. MICHAEL VICK, EAGLES
There wasn’t a fantasy quarterback more disappointing than Vick in
2011. Although injuries were the primary reason, Vick scored just one rushing touchdown in 13 games after scoring nine in 12 games in 2011, and he threw nearly as many interceptions (14) as touchdowns (18) after finishing 2010 with a 21:6 touchdown-to-intercep-

= Rising

= Falling

tion ratio. The injuries, though, were the primary disruption, and likely crippling to most fantasy teams who started him 10 times or more in 2011. That said, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are back, the Eagles are still one of the more pass-heavy teams in the league, and Vick still owns the skills he displayed in 2010.

7. ELI MANNING, GIANTS
Manning has been an above average starting quarterback since at least 2009, but it apparently was not until 2011 – his eighth year in the NFL – that he had actually arrived. His 4,933 yards were more than 900 more than his previous career high of 4,021, his YPA of
8.4 was half of a yard more than his previous career high of 7.9 and his 30 total touchdowns (one rushing) were the second-highest total of his career. History says Manning is unlikely to attempt 589 passes again in 2012 – as the Giants regular-season defense and running game will almost certainty be better – and reduced volume would cost him some yardage at the very least.

8. TONY ROMO, COWBOYS
In a year with three 5,000-yard passers and stunning showings by
Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers, it’s understandable that most football fans didn’t notice how good Romo was in 2011. He completed
66.3 percent of his passes, averaging 8.0 yards per attempt as he totaled 4,184 yards and 31 touchdowns in the air despite missing essentially the entirety of his Week 16 game against Philadelphia.
It’s reasonable to expect a regression from Romo in 2012, though.
First, there’s no reason to expect Romo to stay healthy for 16 games. Second, the Cowboys lost wide receiver Laurent Robinson, who finished with 858 yards and 11 touchdowns in just 14 games, via free agency to the Jaguars.

9. PHILIP RIVERS, CHARGERS
Rivers finished with 4,624 yards and 27 touchdowns, yet the 2011 season was the worst of his six-year reign as San Diego’s starting quarterback. That’s because he also threw 20 interceptions, after throwing just 22 in 2009 and 2010 combined. His value took another hit as his top receiver, Vincent Jackson, left San Diego for Tampa
Bay in free agency this offseason. In any case, last year’s blemish aside, Rivers is an elite quarterback, and elite quarterbacks make their receivers, not the other way around.

10. PEYTON MANNING, BRONCOS
A “minimally invasive” neck surgery on May 23, 2011, seemed harmless enough at the time, but Manning never recovered. On
Sept. 8 Manning underwent another surgery – a cervical fusion surgery that ultimately knocked him out for the whole year. While there’s no way to tell from the outside whether he’s fully recovered yet, the Broncos were willing to gamble $18 million in guaranteed money on that proposition. A healthy Manning’s skills speak for themselves, and Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker are a promising wideout duo – but the enduring and severe nature of Manning’s ailment makes him a major risk.

11. JAY CUTLER, BEARS
If the Bears weren’t a team that just allowed their quarterback to get sacked 105 times the last two years, Cutler would probably be ranked a bit higher. The biggest addition is fellow former Bronco
Brandon Marshall, who caught 206 passes for 2,590 yards and 13

9

QUAR TERBACK SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

touchdowns in Cutler’s final two seasons in Denver. Cutler gets another significant wideout upgrade with the addition of secondround pick Alshon Jeffery, who at 6-3, 216, is a powerful receiver with big hands and an explosive ability to highpoint the ball in traffic. Expect noticeable improvement in Cutler’s passing efficiency after he produced at a per-game rate the last three years that projects to 3,613 yards and 25 touchdowns over 16 games.

over as the starter. The arrival of coach Dennis Allen means a new offensive scheme for Palmer, but with his pass catchers back and an actual offseason and training camp to acclimate to the offense, he should lead another high-flying passing attack in 2012.

17. JOSH FREEMAN, BUCCANEERS

Even if Griffin struggles in real football terms as a rookie, his likely high pass attempt volume in Washington should result in big aggregate numbers. Given the team’s additions of free-agent wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan and the late-season 2011 emergence of running backs Roy Helu and Evan Royster, Griffin will also have better weapons with which to work. With a deep ball that should be among the league’s best from Day One and 4.41 speed,
Griffin should make good use of those weapons, especially down field. While Michael Vick was the biggest disappointment among fantasy quarterbacks, Freeman was probably the most disappointing quarterback in actual football terms, as his 25-TD, six-INT season from
2010 gave way to a 16-TD, 22-INT performance. The touchdown decrease is particularly concerning, because he threw 77 more passes than he did in 2010. Still, Freeman’s regression was probably just the result of overexposure. The arrival of throwback head coach Greg Schiano will ensure a shift back to the run-heavy approach in which Freeman flourished in 2010. Freeman’s aggregate production could suffer due to this shift in offensive philosophy, but his efficiency as a passer should improve dramatically this season in Tampa Bay.

13. BEN ROETHLISBERGER, STEELERS

18. ANDY DALTON, BENGALS

Roethlisberger has played all 16 regular season games just once in his eight-year career, which is primarily the result of a remarkably strong commitment by the Pittsburgh front office to under-invest in its offensive line. To that end, the Steelers drafted guard David
DeCastro and tackle Mike Adams with their first two picks, respectively, at last giving the team a talented offensive line nucleus alongside tackle Marcus Gilbert and center Maurkice Pouncey. Moreover, new offensive coordinator Todd Haley calls a pass-heavy game when he trusts his quarterback, and targets like Mike Wallace,
Antonio Brown, Heath Miller, Emmanuel Sanders and Chris Rainey should be sufficient for Roethlisberger to pull off a strong year.

Dalton was everything the Bengals hoped he would be, finishing his rookie year with 3,398 yards (6.6 YPA), 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions passing while running for 152 yards and a touchdown.
Wideout A.J. Green is the sort of talent who could become the best in the league, and he’s backed up by the promising trio of Jordan
Shipley and rookies Mohamed Sanu (third round) and Marvin Jones
(fifth round), while the tight-end tandem of Jermaine Gresham and fourth-round pick Orson Charles is highly skilled.

12. ROBERT GRIFFIN, REDSKINS

14. MATT RYAN, FALCONS
Ryan finished with career highs of 4,177 yards and 29 touchdowns through the air last year while raising his passing average to 7.4 yards per attempt after consecutive years at 6.5. Even so, Ryan’s week-to-week value is still very matchup-sensitive as he has yet to show the ability to produce against good defenses or in challenging environments. Ryan threw for 20 touchdowns and three interceptions in nine games against New Orleans (twice), Tampa Bay (twice),
Carolina (twice), Indianapolis, Minnesota and Jacksonville, but threw just four touchdowns and seven interceptions in six games against
Chicago, Seattle, Green Bay, Detroit, Houston and the Giants.

15. MATT SCHAUB, TEXANS
The emergence of Arian Foster and Ben Tate at running back – as well as a vastly improved defense – has led the Texans to run the ball as often as possible, and as a result Schaub attempted just 277 passes in the nine full games he played in 2011, which projects to just 492 over a full season. Then you have to consider his durability.
Schaub played all 32 games from 2009 to 2010, but he missed five games in each of the two years prior to that. On an efficiency basis, though, Schaub was better than ever in 2011, averaging a careerhigh 8.5 yards per pass while posting a career-high touchdown rate.

16. CARSON PALMER, RAIDERS
Palmer is an injury worry and was reckless in his first year with the
Raiders, but the big-play potential he possesses in an offense loaded with speedy playmakers gives him a fair amount of upside.
Last year’s result was 2,637 passing yards in just nine starts for an offense in which he had just two weeks of practice before taking

19. ANDREW LUCK, COLTS
Luck has too much talent (particularly as a runner) not to emerge as a spot-start candidate at the very least in most formats. The TEheavy play calling with which he thrived at Stanford will be simulated in Indianapolis, as evidenced by the second- and third-round selections of tight ends Coby Fleener (Luck’s favorite target at
Stanford) and Dwayne Allen, respectively. Luck’s value is in any case greatly aided by his well above average running skills. Fast, quick and strong for a quarterback, Luck should be at least as good a runner as Aaron Rodgers, who averaged 284 yards and four touchdowns on the ground the last four years.

20. JOE FLACCO, RAVENS
Although Flacco claims to believe he’s the best quarterback in the
NFL, he more likely has maxed out as an average starter for the
Ravens. His 20 passing touchdowns were his lowest total since he threw 14 in his 2008 rookie year, and his quarterback rating (80.9) was barely better than the career-low 80.3 he posted in 2008. It’s true that Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith are an average duo at receiver, but an above average quarterback would find a way to make it work. Considering he was significantly better the two years prior to 2011, in any case, Flacco should improve in 2012.

21. JAKE LOCKER, TITANS
Locker is expected to open the season as Matt Hasselbeck’s backup, so it’s hard to project him for a full season of games. But barring a reversion to his Pro Bowl form of more than a half decade ago,
Hasselbeck is unlikely to last more than six weeks as a starter.
Locker has the upside to push for top-10 fantasy quarterback status once he becomes starter. A strong-armed, smart quarterback with running ability second only to Cam Newton, the 2011 eighth overall pick outperformed Hasselbeck whenever he saw the field last year.
10

QUAR TERBACK SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

22. RYAN FITZPATRICK, BILLS
Fitzpatrick’s talent level is merely average, but the Bills are committed to him, and he plays in an offense that does a good job of playing to his strengths. He throws way too many interceptions (38 in his last 29 games), but he also posted 6,832 yards over that span, which averages out to roughly 3,769 yards over 16 games. With solid numbers in the passing touchdown (47) and rushing yardage
(484) categories as well in the last two years, Fitzpatrick is a useful depth choice and match-up starter.

23. MARK SANCHEZ, JETS
The dubious addition of Tim Tebow to the Jets roster means even more scrutiny whenever Sanchez makes a mistake, but he’s still a likely 16-game starter for the Jets – especially after they signed him to an extension with $20.5 million guaranteed. Although he needs to cut his turnovers after committing 26 in 2011 (18 interceptions),
Sanchez deserves credit for making more plays last year, throwing for 26 touchdowns and running for six more. That last year’s offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer – who seemed to hamstring
Sanchez with overly conservative play calling has been replaced by
Tony Sparano – can only help, too.

24. SAM BRADFORD, RAMS
For Bradford, 2012 needs to be the year he breaks out. Secondround pick Brian Quick is a big (6-3, 220) target with a huge wingspan, and fourth-round pick Chris Givens is a field stretcher who should at least have the effect of a poor man’s Torrey Smith. In addition, second-round running back Isaiah Pead will give Bradford a dangerous home-run threat in the backfield that’s bound to make some plays on screen passes. Bradford could make an Alex Smithlike jump in 2012 after averaging just six yards per pass and throwing 24 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in his first 26 NFL games.

25. MATT CASSEL, CHIEFS
With an average of just 6.4 yards per pass attempt in his three-year career with the Chiefs, Cassel has demonstrated that he’s no more than a game manager in the best-case scenario. The Chiefs, however, have done a good job of providing him with that scenario.
Jamaal Charles pairs with Peyton Hillis to give Kansas City what might be the best running back duo in the league. With relatively little pressure on him, Cassel could do a decent re-enactment of his
2010 season this year, a season in which he threw 27 touchdowns compared to seven interceptions (though just 3,116 yards).

26. ALEX SMITH, 49ERS
There might not be a starting quarterback in the league with a lower ceiling than Smith, as his “career year” in 2011 consisted of throwing for just 3,144 yards (7.1 YPA) and 17 touchdowns. The lack of turnovers (five interceptions, two lost fumbles) and solid rushing numbers (179 yards and two touchdowns) helped out, but it seems safe to say that Smith is no more than a game manager. He’ll have some more help in 2012, too, as the 49ers added three speedy upgrades at receiver in the form of first-round pick A.J. Jenkins and free-agents Mario Manningham and Randy Moss.

27. RUSSELL WILSON, SEAHAWKS
Wilson is in a three-way battle with Matt Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson for the starting quarterback job. Flynn signed for a bunch of money and Jackson is the incumbent, so Wilson has his work cut out for him. At 5-10, Wilson is undersized for a traditional quarterback.

However, the Seahawks are high on him, and it won't take much to push out the lackluster Jackson. Expect him to at least be the backup. 28. CHRISTIAN PONDER, VIKINGS
The 2011 12th overall pick threw for 1,853 yards (6.4 YPA) and 13 each of touchdowns and interceptions last year – figures that are generally promising when you take into account how weak his offensive line and receivers were. He also proved to be a skilled runner, averaging 7.8 yards per rush as he took off for 219 yards.
That said, due to the potential absence and limited effectiveness of
Adrian Peterson (ACL, MCL) and Ponder’s own durability concerns, a step forward in Year 2 is far from guaranteed.

29. BRANDON WEEDEN, BROWNS
Weeden’s rookie year figures to be ugly. The 22nd overall pick will be throwing to the league’s worst receivers in the league’s toughest defensive division, and he’ll get four games against the NFC East, too, which might be the second-toughest defensive division. There might be some hope for Weeden to obtain relevance, if Cleveland maintains its high pass attempt volume (570 attempts) from last year, but even that prospect seems unlikely as the team drafted running back Trent Richardson with the third overall pick.

30. RYAN TANNEHILL, DOLPHINS
Although Miami drafted him eighth overall, Tannehill is unrefined and was dealing with consistency issues even as he played against weak college defenses during his senior season at Texas A&M. It’s therefore difficult to see him beating out Matt Moore (or David
Garrard) for the Week 1 starting role in Miami. But with Miami highly unlikely to compete on any notable level this year, the team will presumably turn to Tannehill once it has nothing to lose. If it does,
Tannehill’s rare athleticism (he was A&M’s best wide receiver before taking over as quarterback) makes him a potential spot-start candidate against weak defenses.

31. JOHN SKELTON, CARDINALS
Skelton threw for 1,913 yards, 11 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and a 54.9 completion percentage in eight games last season.
Despite his unimpressive stats, Skelton led the Cards to a surprising 6-2 record when he was behind center, keeping the team in playoff contention until the final weeks of the season. In any case
Skelton's performance was enough to set up a preseason battle between him and Kevin Kolb for the team's 2012 starting assignment. If Skelton can claim the job, he'll still have superb wideout
Larry Fitzgerald to throw to and the Cards used a first-round pick in promising wideout Michael Floyd, as well.

32. TIM TEBOW, JETS
Mark Sanchez might not be a good starting quarterback in the NFL, but at least he can stand in the pocket and occasionally deliver an accurate and well-timed ball. Tebow is more of a gimmick player, able to run and create on broken plays, but is unlikely ever to be a reliable every-down player. Although credit is due for his ability to post 18 touchdowns (six rushing) versus 12 turnovers (six each of interceptions and fumbles), a quarterback cannot survive on a 46.5 completion percentage. Tebow should see some work in a variety of roles, though, including wildcat quarterback, running back and tight end. That should be enough to make him worth owning in twoquarterback leagues or ones where he gains eligibility at another position. 11

QUAR TERBACK SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

34. MATT HASSELBECK, TITANS
Tennessee beat writers expressed confidence at press time that
Hasselbeck would open the season as the starting quarterback for the Titans. He isn’t good enough at this point, though, to hold off
Jake Locker for the entire season, or even a third of it, to be more specific. Hasselbeck will turn 37 on Sept. 25, and he was a major liability down the stretch last year, throwing nine touchdowns against 10 interceptions after Tennessee’s Week 6 bye.

34. CHAD HENNE, JAGUARS
Unless Blaine Gabbert makes huge improvements heading into his second year, Henne would probably win a fair competition against him. Unfortunately for Henne, the job is not up for grabs – Gabbert will likely start even if Henne looks better in training camp. That doesn't make it guaranteed that the Jaguars will be able to endure
16 games of painfully bad play, though, before turning to Henne in

desperation. The problem then, of course, is that Henne himself is an ineffective passer with a career 75.7 QB rating. The addition of rookie Justin Blackmon and Laurent Robinsion should help whoever takes over the job, but Henne had Brandon Marshall at his last stop, and it wasn’t enough to make him useful.

35. MATT MOORE, DOLPHINS
Moore’s days as a starter could be numbered. The team took Ryan
Tannehill with the eighth overall pick, and he will eventually either earn the starting role or have it handed to him at Moore’s expense.
Tannehill is generally quite raw, though, so a solid veteran like
Moore should be able to win the Week 1 starting spot and hold on to it for roughly half of the year, at least. Moore is worth drafting in two-quarterback leagues and could warrant spot start consideration in one-quarterback leagues with the right matchup. That’s assuming
David Garrard doesn’t take the job.

12

RUNNING BACK SEASON PROFILES
Player Profiles are based on season outlooks and re-ranked as events warrant during training camp.

1. ARIAN FOSTER, TEXANS
Foster got off to a slow start last year, as he suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason. He returned with a vengeance after that, as his 1,841 yards from scrimmage was the third-most in football. He plays in the NFL’s premier run scheme, and with Matt Schaub and
Andre Johnson returning to health and an upstart defense that’s suddenly among the best in football, Foster’s situation looks even better entering 2012. Ben Tate has emerged as a more than capable backup, but the Texans tied for the NFL lead with 34.1 rushing attempts per game last season, and there’s little doubt Foster is their workhorse.

2. RAY RICE, RAVENS
Rice led the NFL last year with 2,068 yards from scrimmage, and his five carries for 40-plus yards were also the most in football.
While his yardage output and extreme production as a receiver came as no surprise, his 21 goal-line carries, which tied for the second-most in the NFL, certainly did. It’s big news for Rice’s fantasy value, as he converted a respectable eight of the totes for scores, so the role should remain his. While the Ravens are still waiting for
Joe Flacco to make “the leap,” Torrey Smith looks like a possible future star, and Baltimore enters 2012 among the favorites to win the Super Bowl, so Rice is in an above-average environment.

3. LESEAN MCCOY, EAGLES
McCoy had a monster 2011, totaling 1,624 yards and easily leading all backs with 20 touchdowns (five more than any other). Although he caught 30 fewer balls and saw his receiving yards nearly cut in half compared to 2010, his 14 carries for 20-plus yards led all backs in the NFL. After getting just 11 attempts at the goal line over his first two years in the league, McCoy got 21 carries there last season, converting nine for scores. Head coach Andy Reid has stated he wants to lessen McCoy’s workload, but there are few viable alternatives on the roster, and it’s not like last year’s 273 carries were exorbitant. A healthy year from Michael Vick and a bounceback campaign from DeSean Jackson would likely lead to big offensive production in Philly, and McCoy would benefit.

= Rising

= Falling

drag the offense down. Still, Jones-Drew proved beyond a doubt he can produce in an abysmal offensive environment, and while he’ll soon surpass 1,500 career carries, he looks like a safe pick, at least for one more year.

6. DARREN MCFADDEN, RAIDERS
McFadden was off to a strong start last year, totaling 768 yards with five touchdowns before a foot injury ended his season in Week 7. At press time, however, McFadden is presumed healthy and expects to be 100 percent for training camp. Still, he’s never played more than 13 games during any of his four seasons in the league.
Oakland let Michael Bush walk via free agency, and the team’s RB depth chart is rather thin. With Bush gone, these duties may now also include goal-line work, where McFadden’s converted 6-of-7 attempts for scores over the past three years. There’s some concern with the new coaching staff that will be implementing a zoneblocking scheme, which has proven in the past to be unsuited to
McFadden’s strengths. Still, new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp typically uses a run-heavy system.

7. TRENT RICHARDSON, BROWNS
Becoming a full-time starter for the first time during his junior year at Alabama last season, Richardson totaled 2,017 yards with 24 touchdowns while getting 5.9 YPC. While there’s no question he played in a system that was conducive for big stats in college (producing Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram in 2009), Richardson is widely viewed as the best running back prospect coming into the league since Adrian Peterson. He can make defenders miss with shifty moves, possesses breakaway speed in the open field and will immediately become one of the NFL’s most powerful backs. Team president Mike Holmgren already referred to Richardson as a
“three-down back,” and after Holmgren traded four picks to move up one spot in order to select him, Richardson will likely be asked to be a workhorse immediately.

8. ADRIAN PETERSON, VIKINGS

Johnson was considered a bust last year, and while that may seem harsh after he totaled 1,463 yards, he scored just four touchdowns and finished below 4.0 YPC, easily a career low. In fact, Johnson’s
2.1 YPC after contact tied for 58th in the NFL, and he saw just six goal-line carries. Part of the problem was Tennessee’s continuing decline in run blocking. Still, the low TD total was what really killed his value, something that was largely out of his control. Johnson is still just 26 years old with a modest career workload and worked in the team’s offseason program for the first time since his 2,006-yard season. Peterson was having his typical productive season until injuries struck last year. The first was an ankle sprain in Week 11 that cost him three games followed by a much more serious torn left ACL and MCL with meniscus damage. Moreover, the injury occurred so late in the year he didn’t have surgery until December 31. Peterson incredibly plans on being ready for Week 1. All reports had his rehab going extremely well, and he even finished first running wind sprints with teammates in late April. A best-case scenario would still likely be a scaled down workload over the beginning of the season, especially with Toby Gerhart emerging as a capable alternative.
While offseason reports have been positive, and he’s still in his prime, there are obvious concerns about an RB coming off major knee surgery such a short time ago. Consider Peterson a high-risk, high-reward pick.

5. MAURICE JONES-DREW, JAGUARS

9. MATT FORTE, BEARS

There was legitimate concern about the condition of Jones-Drew’s knees entering last year, but he proved all doubters wrong by winning the rushing title by a wide margin with 1,606 yards. JonesDrew’s fantasy season could have been even bigger, as he converted just four of his 17 goal-line carries into scores (he’s typically been more efficient there throughout his career). A huge question mark remains at quarterback, as Blaine Gabbert should continue to

Forte was having a big year before a sprained MCL forced him to miss the season’s final four games. Despite running behind an offensive line that was among the worst in football, Forte’s 4.9 YPC was easily a career high, and his 12 carries for 20-plus yards were the second most in the NFL. Forte is just 3-for-33 on goal-line attempts over the past three seasons, so expect newcomer Michael
Bush to handle short-yardage work. His knee injury was minor, as

4. CHRIS JOHNSON, TITANS

13

RUNNING BACK SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

he even played in the Pro Bowl, so he’ll enter 2012 fully healthy, but his offseason has been rocky nevertheless. Not only was he upset the team added Bush to the backfield, but the Bears used the franchise tag on him after the two sides couldn’t agree on a long-term contract. As such, there’s some risk of a holdout. If he’s able to get his contract issues settled, Forte should remain among the league leaders in yards from scrimmage yet again.

10. DEMARCO MURRAY, COWBOYS
Murray had an impressive rookie campaign, including a signature performance in Week 7, when he ran for 253 yards (the ninth most by anyone in NFL history and the second most by a rookie ever) against the Rams. That started a six-game stretch in which he totaled a whopping 915 yards before his season ended due to a broken right ankle in Week 14. Murray finished with just two touchdowns, but he got an impressive 5.5 YPC and established himself as the team’s lead back over Felix Jones. Murray is something of a risk, being so unproven and coming off a serious injury, but he’s displayed explosiveness and consistency and is in what projects to be a potent offense, with Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and
Jason Witten as weapons.

11. JAMAAL CHARLES, CHIEFS
Charles tore his ACL in Week 2 last year. For a back who relies so heavily on cutting laterally and explosive speed, there’s some concern as to whether he’ll be the same player. Because the Chiefs don’t treat him like a workhorse and brought in Peyton Hillis during the offseason, he’ll need to maintain high levels of per-touch production to remain an elite fantasy back, something he had no problem doing two years ago as he finished with the second-best YPC mark in NFL history. If he looks like he has his lateral quickness back, he should be drafted aggressively.

second level and has suddenly become a reliable workhorse. It’s tough to bank on last year’s stats repeating, but he just turned 26, so he’s still in his prime. Lynch carries risk since he’s not a great receiver and usually has a pedestrian YPC, but Seattle will once again treat him like a workhorse in 2012. Just realize you’re betting far more on role than skill.

15. DOUG MARTIN, BUCCANEERS
The Buccaneers used their first round pick to draft Martin, who totaled 1,554 yards with 18 touchdowns during his final season at
Boise State. At 5-9, 219, he offers big-play ability but is also considered a complete back, capable as a receiver and in pass protection. LeGarrette Blount struggles badly in those latter two areas, so expect the rookie to start immediately. Josh Freeman is capable of bouncing back, the team added Vincent Jackson through free agency, and new coach Greg Schiano’s offense was extremely runheavy at Rutgers. Martin should make a major impact right away.

16. MICHAEL TURNER, FALCONS
Turner’s season last year was remarkably similar to his 2010 campaign. While at times it looked like the bruising back was starting to slow down, his four carries for 40-plus yards were the second most in football, and he also forced a total of 67 missed tackles, which were the most ever since Pro Football Focus started measuring the statistic. Moreover, Turner’s 28 goal-line carries were easily the most in the NFL, as he remains the league’s premier red-zone back.
Especially with his physical style that often invites contact, there’s some concern Turner, now 30 years old, will slow down, but his career workload (1,414 rushing attempts) remains reasonable thanks to a few light-workload years in San Diego.

17. STEVEN JACKSON, RAMS

Mathews followed up his disastrous rookie season with a much better sophomore campaign, albeit a frustrating one at times, as he continued to deal with nagging injuries. Mathews’ 1,546 yards from scrimmage was the fifth most in football. He was also effective near the goal line in limited opportunities, converting 4-of-5 attempts for scores. San Diego let Mike Tolbert leave via free agency and didn’t address the RB position until round seven of the draft, so the team is clearly turning full-time duties over to Mathews. San Diego is a perennial leader in goal-line opportunities, so this is an ideal situation.

Jackson has eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in seven straight seasons, including last year, when he totaled 1,478 yards from scrimmage with six scores. The low TD production can be attributed directly to an inept offense that provided him with just five goal-line carries – the same amount given to Jacquizz Rodgers and Tashard
Choice. Jackson remains St. Louis’ feature back, though the new coaching staff has already stated they believe second-round pick
Isaiah Pead is the long-term answer at the position. Jackson has missed just two games the last three seasons and still isn’t 30 years old, but he’s accrued 2,138 career carries, which is a legitimate concern moving forward. With his punishing style of running,
Jackson is a candidate to break down.

13. FRED JACKSON, BILLS

18. DARREN SPROLES, SAINTS

Jackson was the NFL’s leading rusher when he went down with a fractured right fibula in Week 11 last year. He was as impressive as it gets, leading all backs with 5.5 YPC (minimum 100 rushing attempts), thanks in no small part to an NFL-high 3.75 YPC after contact. Still, he’s coming off a serious injury, will be 31.5 years old this season (a dangerous age for running backs) and will have to compete with C.J. Spiller for touches. Jackson signed a two-year extension in the offseason and should enter the year as the favorite to get the most touches in the team’s backfield, but it will almost certainly be a timeshare.

Despite finishing tied for 56th in carries, Sproles totaled 1,313 yards with nine touchdowns last year, proving to be one of the league’s best offseason free-agent signings. He was a PPR monster, as his
86 receptions, 710 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches led all NFL running backs. He might be the quickest back in all of football, but even at just 5-6, 190, he’s much more physical than his small frame suggests, as Sproles’ 3.67 YPC after contact was the second-best mark in the NFL. In non-PPR leagues, it’s tough to draft someone early who averaged just 5.4 carries per game last season, but with his skill set and in such a potent offense (assuming Drew Brees re-signs), Sproles merits consideration once the top two tiers are off the board.

12. RYAN MATHEWS, CHARGERS

14. MARSHAWN LYNCH, SEAHAWKS
Lynch was one of football’s biggest surprises last year, when he totaled 1,416 yards with 13 touchdowns, scoring in 11 consecutive games at one point. He managed just 4.2 YPC but also forced 52 missed tackles, the second most in the NFL. Lynch lacks explosion and isn’t overly powerful, but he can make defenders miss at the

19. AHMAD BRADSHAW, GIANTS
Thanks in part to four missed games in the middle of the season,
Bradshaw ran for just 659 yards last year after rushing for 1,235 yards the year before. But he actually increased his TD production
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RUNNING BACK SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

from eight to 11 and corrected his fumbling problem. Bradshaw is a shifty runner who’s converted a terrific 15-of-24 goal-line carries into touchdowns over the past three years, a remarkable 62.5 percent conversion rate that easily leads all backs over that span (minimum 12 attempts). Brandon Jacobs left via free agency, but the
Giants spent their first-round pick on David Wilson. Bradshaw received a bone marrow injection in his troublesome foot during the offseason and reportedly feels better than he has in years.

20. REGGIE BUSH, DOLPHINS
Despite a major downgrade in offensive environment going from
New Orleans to Miami, Bush easily had the best season of his career, rushing for 1,086 yards (his previous high was 581), adding another 296 through the air while scoring seven total touchdowns.
He also managed 5.0 YPC and generally held up physically while acting as a lead back for the first time since turning pro. The
Dolphins took Lamar Miller early in the fourth round of the draft, and Daniel Thomas could improve as a sophomore, but Bush remains the favorite for touches in Miami’s backfield.

21. FRANK GORE, 49ERS
Gore played in all 16 games last season for just the second time in his career, though that came with a modest 4.3 YPC mark and a steep drop in production as a receiver. In fact, over the final eight games, he averaged just 3.5 YPC and had only four receptions.
Gore, who might have the best vision of any back in football, is in decline, but his 11 carries for 20-plus yards tied for the third most in the NFL. San Francisco added Brandon Jacobs, who’s likely to take over goal-line work, and also selected LaMichael James in the second round of the draft. Expect Gore to remain the team’s lead back, but he’s an injury risk, and a decreased workload is a near certainty.

22. ROY HELU, REDSKINS

attempts for scores over the past three seasons, won’t turn 24 until the end of summer and could be in an improved offense if Kevin
Kolb progresses. Still, he remains a big health risk and will have to fight off Ryan Williams, the team’s early second round pick in 2011, who is returning from last year’s season-ending knee injury.

25. JONATHAN STEWART, PANTHERS
Once again working in a backfield by committee, Stewart impressed when given the chance, finishing with 5.4 YPC.
Moreover, after entering last season with a total of 34 receptions in his career, he racked up 47 catches for 413 yards in 2011. Stewart forced 52 missed tackles, which ranked fifth among all backs despite his limited workload. Stewart is powerful, but he’s also explosive for someone who’s 235 pounds, and he’ll be playing for a new contract at the end of this season. If Stewart somehow approached 300 rushing attempts, there’s little doubt he’d be a topfive fantasy back. Unfortunately, with DeAngelo Williams around
(and Cam Newton there to steal goal-line carries), that’s unlikely.

26. SHONN GREENE, JETS
Finally given the role as the team’s feature back, Greene gained
1,265 yards from scrimmage with six touchdowns last season.
Those numbers aren’t bad, but considering he played in all 16 games, they have to be considered a disappointment. While he’s improving, he’s still a poor receiver, and he got just 2.3 YPC after contact, which ranked 50th among backs. Greene also converted only 3-of-10 goal-line carries for scores. The good news is the Jets didn’t address the RB position until late in the draft, so the starting job still belongs to Greene. New OC Tony Sparano promises a return to a “ground and pound” style offense, which is encouraging.

27. ISAAC REDMAN, STEELERS

Helu wasn’t given more than 10 carries in a game during his rookie season until Week 12, but over the next four contests, he totaled
505 yards with two touchdowns. Coach Mike Shanahan has voiced concern as to whether Helu can hold up physically carrying a full workload. In a Shanahan system that will be adding electric rookie
Robert Griffin at quarterback, there’s a ton of upside if one back emerges as a 20-touch weekly option in this offense, and Helu enters 2012 as the favorite, but it’s a total crapshoot with
Shanahan, who has two other viable alternatives in Tim Hightower and Evan Royster.

Redman is an undrafted 27-year-old journeyman who’s played just two years in the league, but overlook him at your own peril.
Redman isn’t necessarily a special back, but he got a strong 3.1
YPC after contact, and more importantly, looks like Pittsburgh’s feature back for 2012. Mendenhall’s injury was a torn ACL that happened so late in the year, there’s concern he won’t play at all during the upcoming season, and it’s almost certain he starts on the PUP list. Moreover, Pittsburgh addressed its offensive line problems with its first two picks in the draft, and as a 230-pound bruiser who’s also proven to be a capable receiver, Redman could finish as a top fantasy back if he keeps the job all season.

23. BENJARVUS GREEN-ELLIS, BENGALS

28. PEYTON HILLIS, CHIEFS

Green-Ellis ran for just 667 yards last season, though he added 11 touchdowns, giving him 24 scores over the past two years. Signing with Cincinnati has its plusses and minuses, as he’ll likely see more than the 11.9 touches per game he got in New England last season, but he’ll almost certainly be given fewer scoring opportunities (his
20 goal-line carries were the fourth most in the NFL). This will come down to opportunity, and it doesn’t appear the Bengals trust
Bernard Scott as anything more than a change-of-pace back, and there are no other real alternatives on the roster.

After being one of the best waiver wire adds in recent memory in
2010, Hillis followed it up with a disastrous 2011, as he finished with
937 fewer yards and 10 fewer touchdowns. Injuries were part of the problem, as he played in just 10 games. The power back also went just 2-of-12 from the goal line. As a result, Hillis had to settle on a modest one-year contract with Kansas City, where he’ll reunite with
Brian Daboll, who was his offensive coordinator with Cleveland when he had his big 2010 season. He could see the bulk of the goal-line carries, but assuming Charles comes back from his ACL injury at
100 percent, Hillis will be on the wrong end of the timeshare.

24. CHRIS WELLS, CARDINALS
Playing through a painful knee injury, Wells ran for a career-high
1,047 yards and 10 touchdowns over 14 games last season. He sprained his knee in Week 7 and failed to reach 4.0 YPC in eight of the final 10 games before sitting out Week 17 as a precautionary measure. Wells has failed to make strides as a receiver since entering the league three years ago. He has converted 13-of-25 goal-line

29. WILLIS MCGAHEE, BRONCOS
McGahee ran for a surprising 1,199 yards last season, his most since 2007, though his five touchdowns actually tied a career low set back in 2005. He’s a perfectly serviceable back, even making the Pro Bowl last season, and it appears Knowshon Moreno is a bust, but McGahee is approaching 2,000 career carries and will turn
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RUNNING BACK SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

31 this season. Moreover, Denver spent an early third-round pick on
Ronnie Hillman, though John Elway referred to the rookie as more of a change-of-pace option. McGahee is a safe, if boring, fantasy pick, though there’s a real chance he sees a big upward tick in scoring opportunities with Peyton Manning taking over QB duties.

30. DONALD BROWN, COLTS
Brown finished with just 29 more yards from scrimmage last season than the year before, but his 4.8 YPC mark was easily a career high, as were his five touchdowns. He missed the first four games of the season but looked like a much-improved player after returning. The former first-round pick enters 2012 as the favorite for carries in Indy for the first time in his career, as Joseph Addai is no longer around.
He’ll have to beat out Delone Carter, but Carter was a major disappointment as a rookie.

31. DEANGELO WILLIAMS, PANTHERS
Despite signing a lucrative contract to return to Carolina last year,
Williams remained locked in a timeshare, resulting in a modest 171 touches. After an extremely slow start to the season, when he ran for a total of 61 yards on 2.3 YPC over the first three games, he really picked up his per-play production, finishing with a strong 5.4
YPC mark on the year. Williams will be hard-pressed to match last year’s seven touchdowns, as he was given just two goal-line carries, while Stewart and quarterback Cam Newton combined for 24.
Mike Tolbert was also brought in through free agency, though he’s expected to play mostly fullback. If injuries strike, there’s plenty of upside, but as things stand, Williams’ situation kills most of his value. 32. MIKEL LESHOURE, LIONS
The Lions selected Leshoure in the second round of the 2011 draft, but he tore his Achilles’ tendon in training camp, ending his rookie season before it even started. While the injury occurred in August, giving him a full year to recover, it’s about as serious an injury as a running back can have, so there’s hardly a guarantee he returns 100 percent. Moreover, Leshoure was twice busted for marijuana possession during the offseason, so a suspension seems imminent, and it could be several games. Jahvid Best is returning from a concussion, and Kevin Smith also re-signed during the offseason, so there are also multiple, albeit shaky, alternatives in Detroit’s backfield.

33. MARK INGRAM, SAINTS
Ingram had a disappointing rookie campaign, totaling just 520 yards while missing six games due to injuries. Ingram’s year ended prematurely when he had surgery to repair a turf toe injury, and discouragingly, he also underwent offseason arthroscopic knee surgery, the second time in three years his left knee has been repaired.
It wasn’t major surgery and is expected to keep him out only six weeks, but Ingram might not be 100 percent healthy for the start of training camp. If the team ditches its past committee approach, and
Ingram emerges as the lead back in such a potent offense, big production could follow.

34. SHANE VEREEN, PATRIOTS
A second-round draft pick, Vereen was given just 15 carries as a rookie last season, thanks partially to injuries and also to a muddled backfield in New England. BenJarvus Green-Ellis left via free agency, so there will be more opportunities in 2012, with fellow

sophomore Stevan Ridley the main competition. Danny Woodhead also remains around to take away touches, while Joseph Addai was added through free agency, and the Patriots can be unpredictable in their backfield usage, often changing week-to-week based on opponents. Vereen will almost certainly be a part of a timeshare, but he’s enticing playing in such a high-powered offense.

35. MICHAEL BUSH, BEARS
Bush took over for an injured Darren McFadden last season, totaling 1,395 yards with eight touchdowns and proving to be a surprisingly capable receiver. Despite starting just nine games, he finished with the fourth-most snaps among all backs, and that heavy workload caught up to him, as Bush got just 3.3 YPC over the final seven games. In a somewhat surprising move, the Raiders let Bush sign with the Bears during the offseason, where the coaches have stated he’ll take over the role Marion Barber had last season.
There’s some chance Matt Forte holds out, but assuming he signs,
Bush will be looking at a backup role.

36. DAVID WILSON, GIANTS
After a couple of nondescript seasons at Virginia Tech, Wilson busted out as a junior last year, rushing for 1,709 yards with nine touchdowns while running for 5.9 YPC. The former track star is extremely athletic and he led all of college football in yards after contact last season. He had fumbling issues, and durability is also a concern, but the Giants let Brandon Jacobs leave via free agency. Wilson is expected to open 2012 behind Ahmad Bradshaw on the depth chart, but he’s a flier with plenty of upside.

37. C.J. SPILLER, BILLS
Spiller didn’t receive double-digit carries in any of the first 24 games of his career, but when Fred Jackson went down with a season-ending injury in Week 11, Spiller responded surprisingly well.
Over the final six games, he totaled 633 yards with five touchdowns. Spiller also improved greatly as a blocker, proved to be a major threat as a receiver and got 5.2 YPC while holding up just fine with a bigger workload. He’s capable of finishing as a top-10 fantasy back in 2012, were he given the opportunity. However, there’s going to be serious competition in Buffalo’s backfield, likely resulting in a committee.

38. JAHVID BEST, LIONS
Best totaled 677 yards with three touchdowns over six games last year before another concussion ended his season. It marked his third serious concussion over the span of two years, and there were some whispers his career could be over. When on the field, Best is a poor inside runner but is explosive in space and a monster in PPR formats. Mikel Leshoure is coming off a serious Achilles injury and is likely to open the year suspended, but the Lions also re-signed
Kevin Smith. Still, opportunity isn’t the biggest question when it comes to Best – health is.

39. PIERRE THOMAS, SAINTS
Thomas totaled 987 yards on just 160 touches last season, scoring six touchdowns with 5.1 YPC. Thomas has durability concerns, but he’s a complete back who would likely finish among the top fantasy
RBs if he ever became a true workhorse. As is, he’s part of a threeheaded monster also consisting of Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles.
Thomas left the divisional round playoff game with a nasty concussion, but he’s expected to enter training camp fully healthy.

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RUNNING BACK SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

40. JACQUIZZ RODGERS, FALCONS
Rodgers established himself as the lead backup behind Michael
Turner last season, but that didn’t get him too many carries. The situation should be similar this season. Rodgers is an exciting back capable of breaking big plays, but he’s also just 5-6, 196, so he’s an injury risk if he does see extensive time. Rodgers should be productive when on the field, but expect his opportunities to be limited.

41. BEN TATE, TEXANS
Tate had four fumbles in limited work last year and isn’t nearly the receiver Arian Foster is, but he also averaged 5.4 YPC, which was tied for second best in the NFL (minimum 100 carries). There’s little question Houston’s system is the best in the NFL right now for RB production, and while Tate has battled injuries in the past, when healthy he’s proven to be not only adequate but a top-15-type talent. Consequently, if Foster were to go down, Tate could easily be a top-three fantasy commodity. Players with this rare type of upside should be drafted aggressively.

42. RONNIE BROWN, CHARGERS
Signed in June, Brown should serve as Ryan Mathews’ primary backup. At 6-1, 233, Brown has excellent size, but at 30, injuries and age have cost him a step. Playing in a productive Eagles’ system last year, he averaged just 3.2 YPC on 42 totes, after managing a 3.7 YPC mark on 200 carries with the Dolphins in 2010. Brown is an able receiver, and his meager workload a year ago should make for fresh legs this season. Just keep in mind that even if he were to be the team’s workhorse, he’d be unlikely to replicate Mathews’ production. 43. JAMES STARKS, PACKERS
Part of a rotation, Starks managed just 794 yards from scrimmage with only one touchdown in 2011. He continued to battle injuries, so durability remains a legitimate concern moving forward. However, despite getting just 133 rushing attempts, Starks’ 27 broken tackles were 15th most among all backs, and he plays in an offense that averaged an NFL-high 35 points per game last year. Green Bay didn’t select an RB in the draft and isn’t expected to bring back Ryan
Grant, so a healthy Starks could pay big dividends in fantasy leagues this year.

44. RASHAD JENNINGS, JAGUARSS
Jennings didn’t play last year after suffering a knee injury in the preseason, but though he was placed on IR, he didn’t require surgery and reportedly could have returned in the middle of the year. He should enter 2012 fully healthy. Jennings played so well the year before, when he got 5.5 YPC, Maurice Jones-Drew owners entered
2011 with some concern Jennings would make Jacksonville’s backfield a timeshare. Jones-Drew proved his knee was healthy and is coming off a fantastic year during which he led the NFL in rushing, so Jennings will have to settle for a backup role. But he’s proven to be plenty capable if given an opportunity.

45. RONNIE HILLMAN, BRONCOS
After racking up 1,981 yards and 20 touchdowns, Hillman left San
Diego State after his sophomore season. While many considered it a premature move, the Broncos traded up to draft him early in the third round. A different pace than incumbent Willis McGahee could mean the team is searching for playmaking ability out of the back-

field, as Hillman is much more explosive at this stage of their respective careers. With Peyton Manning taking over at QB,
Denver’s offense should be much improved, making Hillman a sleeper. 46. TIM HIGHTOWER, REDSKINS
Hightower totaled 399 yards over five games last year, which looks even better when you consider he left two of the contests early. He predictably got just 3.8 YPC, but the Redskins were clearly committed to him as their lead back until a Week 7 ACL tear ended his season. He’s expected to be healthy for 2012, and he re-signed with Washington, where he’ll compete with Roy Helu and Evan
Royster for touches. It may sound absurd, but Hightower could easily enter the year once again the team’s starter, as Mike
Shanahan really values his intangibles. On a Redskins offense that added a lot of parts in the offseason, pay attention to who looks like the leader in the RB clubhouse this summer.

47. RYAN WILLIAMS, CARDINALS
An early second-round pick in 2011, Williams suffered a seasonending torn patellar tendon in training camp. The Cardinals didn’t sign or draft a running back in the offseason, so they must feel comfortable with Williams’ recovery, especially with Beanie Wells being so injury prone. Arizona went 7-2 over the final nine games last year and added Michael Floyd alongside Larry Fitzgerald, so if Kevin Kolb can make the leap, there’s potential for this offense. But Williams enters 2012 firmly behind Wells on the depth chart.

48. LEGARRETTE BLOUNT, BUCCANEERS
Blount was one of fantasy football’s biggest busts last season, and injuries couldn’t be blamed. He’s still a beast with the ball in his hands and possesses one of the best hurdlers in the NFL with a nice combination of speed and power. Few backs in the league are tougher to bring down in the open field. Despite being 6-0, 247, his lack of ball security (five fumbles on a mere 184 carries) likely led to him receiving just two goal-line carries (he converted both). There’s an entirely new coaching staff in Tampa Bay, and it traded up to select Doug Martin in the first round. The rookie is expected to start immediately. 49. RASHARD MENDENHALL, STEELERS
Despite playing in 15 games and increasing his YPC, Mendenhall saw his rushing yards drop from 1,273 in 2010 to 928 last year, thanks to 96 fewer carries. His touchdowns also fell from 13 to nine, and his production as a receiver declined, too. A down year got even worse when Mendenhall suffered a torn ACL in Week 17, which puts his 2012 season in jeopardy. He’s expected to return at some point, but it sounds like he’ll start the year on the PUP list, so expectations should be held in check. At this point, Mendenhall is mostly insurance for Isaac Redman owners.

50. TOBY GERHART, VIKINGS
Stepping in for an injured Adrian Peterson last season, Gerhart proved plenty capable, totaling 479 yards with three touchdowns over the final five games, finishing with a 4.9 YPC mark on the year.
Gerhart’s fantasy value is 100 percent tied to Peterson, who’s coming off surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL, but might be ready to return in Week 1. In any event, it’s pretty clear that were Peterson to suffer a setback, Gerhart’s his undisputed backup, and a capable one at that.

17

WIDE RECEIVER SEASON PROFILES
Player Profiles are based on season outlooks and re-ranked as events warrant during training camp.

1. CALVIN JOHNSON, LIONS
Finally paired with a quality quarterback, Johnson lived up to his lofty pedigree, leading all wideouts in touchdowns (16) and yards
(1,681) while finishing third in catches (96) last season. At 6-5, 235, and with elite deep speed, Johnson’s a physical marvel, able to get beat double teams all over the field. Johnson’s got good hands – only six drops (tied for 23rd) on 158 targets (3rd) – and he’s an ideal presence in the red zone (25 targets, 2nd) and at the goal line (11 targets inside the 10, 3rd). At 26, Johnson’s in the prime of his career, and with quarterback Matthew Stafford likely to get better.

2. LARRY FITZGERALD, CARDINALS
While it’s unclear at press time whether Kevin Kolb or John Skelton will win the Cardinals quarterback job, it’s abundantly clear that
Fitzgerald can thrive with either under center – certainly in comparison to the dreck to which he was subjected in 2010. Fitzgerald will be among the league leaders in targets regardless of who’s under center. Fitzgerald managed a career high 17.6 YPC (4th among the league’s 32 100-target WR) and 9.2 YPT (10th), with eight catches of 40-plus yards (2nd).With excellent hands, body-control and leaping ability, Fitzgerald’s a top red-zone target, usually among the league leaders in touchdowns. The addition of rookie Michael Floyd in the first round should create some extra space for Fitzgerald to operate, though Floyd has red-zone skills in his own right and might cut into some of those targets.

3. RODDY WHITE, FALCONS
In 2010, White was the only game in town, leading the NFL with 179 targets and averaging a pedestrian 7.8 yards per target. Last year, the Falcons added Julio Jones, and somehow White got 180 targets, but his YPT actually declined further to 7.2 (25th among the league’s
32 100-target WR). Part of the problem was a league-leading 14 drops, but it also didn’t help that he had just one catch of 40-plus yards, while Jones – in 13 games – had six. White still had 1,296 yards and eight scores despite his below average efficiency.
White has good size and decent speed, but he’s both smaller and less explosive than Jones who should take on a larger role in Year 2.

4. VICTOR CRUZ, GIANTS
Cruz got into the mix in Week 3, and finished with 80 catches for
1,519 yards over his next 14 games. Prorated over a full season, that’s 1,736 yards or what would be the fourth highest total in NFL history. At just 6-0, 204, Cruz isn’t big, but he’s lightning quick in and out of his breaks and knows how to setup defenders instinctively to get open in the slot. He’s also dangerous with the ball in his hands, finishing second in the league in yards-after-the-catch to
Wes Welker on 42 fewer targets. Cruz understandably is looking for the Giants to restructure his contract – he made just $450,000 in
2011 – but has vowed not to hold out irrespective of his status on that front. As such, he’ll return to the team as one of Eli Manning’s top targets alongside Hakeem Nicks.

5. BRANDON MARSHALL, BEARS
Marshall’s numbers improved across the board last year for the
Dolphins, but given his volatile personal life and exorbitant contract, they dealt him to the Bears this offseason for a pair of third-round picks. At 6-4, 230, with good speed and the agility of a much small-

= Rising

= Falling

er receiver, Marshall is a physical mismatch for most defensive backs. Marshall managed 15.0 yards per catch, 8.6 yards per target and four catches of 40-plus yards. In Chicago Marshall’s paired with former teammate Jay Cutler, who’s actually been an efficient quarterback for the Bears despite playing with below-average receivers and frequently running for his life. Marshall could vie with
Roddy White and Calvin Johnson for the league lead in targets.

6. ANDRE JOHNSON, TEXANS
Last year was a lost one for Johnson, who was limited to just 51 targets in seven games with injuries to both hamstrings. There’s not much question about Johnson’s skill set – he averaged 9.6 yards per target and had three catches of more than 40 yards on one third of his usual targets. At 6-3, 226, he’s not as big or fast as Calvin
Johnson, but he’s strong, has excellent hands, runs good routes and has more than enough speed to get deep. The one knock on
Johnson is his lack of touchdowns. Despite being one of the league’s elite receivers for more than half a decade, Johnson has never managed double-digit scores. When healthy, Johnson is as good a bet as any receiver to lead the league in catches and yards.

7. GREG JENNINGS, PACKERS
Jennings sprained his MCL in Week 14 against the Raiders and missed the last three games of the season, but up to that point he was having another strong season with 14.2 YPC, 9.4 YPT, 949 yards and nine scores. If you prorate Jennings’ numbers over a full season, he’d have had 1,168 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won’t turn 29 until September, still has arguably the league’s top quarterback throwing him the ball and is completely healthy heading into the summer. Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Randall Cobb are still in the mix, as is tight end Jermichael Finley, but there’s plenty to go around in the Green Bay passing game, and Jennings only needs his usual share to be a top-10 receiver.

8. HAKEEM NICKS, GIANTS
After battling various injuries the last couple years, Nicks broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during OTAs in late May. He underwent surgery to insert a screw into the broken bone, with the initial estimate that he will miss 12 weeks. That timetable suggests that he could be ready by Week 1, but that might be too optimistic.
Even so, Nicks managed 1,192 yards on 15.7 YPC (10th) and 9.0
YPT (13th), with nine catches of 40-plus (tied for 9th). Nicks scored just seven times last year, but had 11 touchdowns in 13 games in
2010. The emergence of Victor Cruz in the slot should create more room for Nicks on the outside, though newly signed 6-6 tight end
Martellus Bennett has the potential to take away some of his redzone looks.

9. A.J. GREEN, BENGALS
A rare 1,000-yard receiver as a rookie, Green is just getting started in the NFL. At 6-4, 210, with excellent speed, outstanding ball skills and superior athleticism, Green is already a mismatch for opposing defensive backs. He averaged 9.2 yards per target as a rookie, while catching balls from a rookie quarterback. He had seven catches of 40-plus yards (tied for 3rd). Green also showed outstanding hands, dropping only three passes in 115 targets. Green also saw 16 red-zone targets. Given his size and leaping ability, it’s reasonable to expect more scores in 2012.

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WIDE RECEIVER SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

10. WES WELKER, PATRIOTS
Welker led the NFL by a mile with 122 catches, was second in yards (1,569) and set a career-high with nine touchdowns. He also set Patriots career highs in YPC (12.9) and YPT (9.1) and led the
NFL in yards after the catch with 751. He even tied for third in the league in red-zone targets with 22, though only six were from inside the 10. Of some concern for Welker was his drop-off during weeks
9-16 when he averaged 76.1 YPG on 10.9 YPC compared to 120 and 14.5, respectively, during the season’s first half. Moreover, the emergence of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez as Tom
Brady’s more frequent goal-line targets could cut into Welker’s work in 2012.

11. JULIO JONES, FALCONS
While Roddy White made his living on volume, Jones was the team’s big-play weapon. Jones averaged a whopping 17.8 YPC (4th among 90-target WR) and had six catches of 40-plus yards (tied for
7th). Jones scored eight TDs despite seeing almost no work inside the red zone – just seven targets, only one of which was from inside the 10. If that keeps up, it’s likely he could approach double-digit scores solely from long distance. Jones should improve in Year 2, and his rapport with quarterback Matt Ryan should only get better.
But as long as White is Ryan’s first read, and Tony Gonzalez (21 targets) and Michael Turner (60 rushes) are the team’s top options in the red zone, Jones’ ceiling will be capped.

12. STEVE SMITH, PANTHERS
Sometimes it pays to draft highly talented players, regardless of their apparent circumstances. This was emphatically the case last year with Smith. Smith finished 2011 with 1,394 yards, seven scores and 10.8 YPT (2nd). Of course, it turned out that Cam
Newton could throw the ball as well as run it, and he should only get better in Year 2. Smith is a small receiver, but at 32 he was still blazingly fast and as tough as anyone in the league. He’s also a fierce competitor who will go up over similarly sized cornerbacks and snatch the ball out of the air. Smith has little competition for targets as Brandon LaFell and Greg Olsen are complementary options at best. The Panthers apparently believe Smith (who turned
33 in May) will continue to age well as they locked him up with a three-year deal this offseason.

13. DEMARYIUS THOMAS, BRONCOS
Thomas quickly became Tim Tebow’s top target and big-play option last season, averaging 17.2 yards per catch and hauling in four catches of 40-plus yards. But Tebow’s inaccuracy cost Thomas as he caught just 46 percent of the passes thrown his way. That should change in 2012 with Peyton Manning under center for the
Broncos. Thomas’ hands were inconsistent in 2011 (six drops on just 69 targets). Moreover, Thomas had surgery on his pinkie in
March and at press time hadn’t yet had a chance to practice with
Manning, giving teammate Eric Decker a head start. But Thomas is the player with the higher ceiling, and assuming Manning is completely healthy, and Thomas shows he can make his living on timing and route-running (and not just broken plays as he did with Tebow), we could be looking at a top-10 receiver.

14. MIKE WALLACE, STEELERS
It was a tale of two halves for Wallace who had 43 catches for 800 yards and five scores in the season’s first eight games. Over its last eight, he managed just 29-393-3, essentially a replacement value roster-filler in most formats. Some of the drop-off might have had to do with Ben Roethlisberger’s sprained ankle, though teammate

Antonio Brown’s numbers actually got significantly better in the second half, so it likely had more to do with Wallace seeing a significant amount of double coverage. Wallace is one of the fastest players in the NFL and is bigger than most of the league’s pure speedsters.
Wallace had seven catches of 40-plus yards (tied for 3rd in the NFL).
He rarely sees red-zone work (just 11 targets), so he’ll have to do his scoring from deep, something of which he’s certainly capable, but he won’t pad his totals with the easier short touchdowns.

15. JORDY NELSON, PACKERS
The big-play receiver in one of the most prolific offenses in recent memory, Nelson averaged an ungodly 13.2 YPT, easily the most by any 90-target receiver in the last decade. It’s simply unheard of for a receiver to average 18.6 YPC and catch 71 percent of the balls thrown his way. Nelson had seven catches of 40-plus yards (tied for
3rd) and scored 15 touchdowns, second among all wide receivers, despite seeing just 96 targets. While Nelson is still a strong option in one of the league’s top offenses, there will almost certainly be regression to the mean – even if it’s still a strong 11 yards per target and a touchdown every 10 targets instead of every six. As such, a sharp increase in volume would be necessary to sustain last year’s numbers, something that’s not too likely with so much talent on the team, and Rodgers willing to throw to whoever is open.

16. JEREMY MACLIN, EAGLES
On the surface, Maclin seemed to take a step back in Year 3, but if you prorate his numbers over 16 games, he’d have had 78 catches for 1,057 yards and six scores on 8.9 YPT, all career highs except for the touchdowns. The touchdowns declined in large part because he was targeted so much less frequently in the red zone
(21 to 12) and also inside the 10 (12 to 4). At 6-0, 198, Maclin has only average size, but he’s fast, shifty and sure-handed (just four drops). He’ll still serve as Michael Vick’s most frequent target in a pass-friendly offense. Just realize that DeSean Jackson is the team’s primary big-play threat, and the Eagles seem to prefer other options in the red zone.

17. MARQUES COLSTON, SAINTS
If you need a top-20 receiver, Colston is money in the bank. Just don’t expect top-10 in a system that spreads the ball around so much. Colston actually had the most efficient season of his career in 2011, with 10.7 YPA (3rd). Of course, Drew Brees set the all-time record for passing yards, so Colston’s numbers hardly jump out in that context. Colston saw just 13 red-zone looks all year, while fellow wideout Lance Moore had 16 and 6-7 tight end Jimmy Graham had 28. Colston’s been plagued by nagging injuries throughout his career. But this offseason, he’s had a clean bill of health, and the
Saints rewarded him with a five-year deal with nearly $20 million.

18. MILES AUSTIN, COWBOYS
Injuries to both hamstrings derailed Austin’s season, and now his breakout in 2009 (when he and Tony Romo were last healthy together) is fading further into history. But before Austin went down in Week 2, he had 14 catches for 233 yards and four touchdowns, so he essentially picked up where he left off early in 2010 (when
Romo was healthy), and Austin had more than 140 yards in three of the season’s first four games. The presence of Dez Bryant and
Jason Witten probably limit Austin’s target upside, but the
Austin/Romo combination is efficient enough to produce big numbers without being top-10 in volume. Austin’s healthy at press time and with the departure of Laurent Robinson, there are no other established receivers besides Bryant on the roster.
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19. PERCY HARVIN, VIKINGS
Dogged by character concerns and migraine headaches in years past, Harvin turned in the best fantasy season of his career in 2011, playing all 16 games and amassing 967 receiving yards, 345 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns (including kick returns).
Christian Ponder should improve with a full training camp as a starter, and Harvin returns as his clear No. 1 target in the passing game. In fact, coach Leslie Frazier wants to get Harvin on the field for more than the 59 percent of snaps he’s seen the last two years.
But Harvin will have to prove he can stay healthy and focused with an increased workload. Harvin had arthroscopic surgery in late April to repair damage to the AC joint in his shoulder, but is expected to be 100 percent healthy well before the start of training camp.

20. DWAYNE BOWE, CHIEFS
Unlike his Jekyll and Hyde 2010, Bowe was a model of consistency last season, going over 60 yards in 12 of 16 games, but never eclipsing 128 yards in any. Bowe put up fairly similar numbers to the previous years, and this despite losing quarterback Matt Cassel for the season’s final seven games. He’s not going to beat a lot of defensive backs with his speed, but he’s able to get open and make plays down the field and in the red zone, giving his leaping ability and strong ball skills. Bowe occasionally lacks focus – his 12 drops tied him for second in the league. With Cassel expected back, Bowe is one of the safer receivers on the board.

21. BRANDON LLOYD, PATRIOTS
After coming out of nowhere to lead the NFL in receiving yards two years ago, Lloyd went from a bad situation in Denver last season to a far worse one in St. Louis. Even so, by year’s end, Lloyd had 70 catches for 966 yards and five scores in 15 games. Lloyd isn’t especially physical, and while he has good long speed, it’s his rare ability to change directions without slowing down that makes him such a tough cover. With Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez likely to dominate the targets from in close, and Wes Welker Tom
Brady’s prime look on shorter routes, it’s unlikely Lloyd approaches last year’s 148 targets. But there’s a lot to go around in New
England’s passing game, and Lloyd looks like Brady’s top downfield target on the outside, a role that still holds plenty of value.

22. DEZ BRYANT, COWBOYS
With Miles Austin slowed for much of the season by a hamstring injury, Bryant managed to play in 15 games, saw 103 targets and scored nine touchdowns. He was also fairly efficient, averaging 9.0
YPT (12th) and showed excellent hands (just two drops). But nagging injuries and an apparent lack of focus (and possibly conditioning) are still issues as Bryant often seemed to disappear during the second halves of games. In fact, Bryant had 37 catches for 558 yards and seven scores in the first two quarters and just 25-344-2 in the latter two. There’s little doubt Bryant has elite tools, but given his inconsistency, he’s likely to be Tony Romo’s No. 3 option so long as Austin and tight end Jason Witten (117 targets) are healthy.

23. VINCENT JACKSON, BUCCANEERS
The NFL’s most efficient receiver over the last four years, Jackson will ply his trade in Tampa Bay this season, with Josh Freeman replacing Philip Rivers as his quarterback. Jackson’s 9.6 YPT (6th) last year actually represented his weakest per-target output in the last four years, thanks to a lower-than-usual 52-percent catch rate.
At 6-5, 240, and with good deep speed, Jackson is a matchup problem for virtually any defensive back. In San Diego, Jackson

typically ran deeper routes, and while we’d expect him to be deployed similarly in Tampa, there could be an adjustment period with Freeman. Third-year man Mike Williams and newly signed tight end Dallas Clark are also in the mix, so it remains to be seen whether Jackson sees significantly more targets than he did with the Chargers.

24. ANTONIO BROWN, STEELERS
Brown is a small, speed receiver with excellent quickness and good vision. He averaged 8.9 yards per target (14th), but his numbers picked up significantly in the season’s second half when he had 35 catches for 677 yards (19.3 YPC). He had only two receiving touchdowns and while that number’s likely to increase, his lack of size and Wallace’s status as the team’s primary downfield threat limit his scoring upside significantly. For leagues that count return yards,
Brown had quite a bit of value as he was the first player in NFL history to have 1,000 receiving and return yards in the same season.
Brown enters 2012 as a starter opposite Wallace who incidentally appears intent on holding out for a multiyear contact. Chances are
Wallace will sign before too long, but should talks fall apart, Brown would be far and away Ben Roethlisberger’s first look.

25. STEVE JOHNSON, BILLS
After emerging from nowhere in 2010, Johnson posted nearly identical numbers last year save for a slight drop in touchdowns. Johnson wasn’t particularly efficient with 7.5 YPT (24th) and 13.2 YPC, but he did get loose for four plays of 40-plus yards and got into the end zone seven times. Johnson’s got good size and a lot of quickness in open space. Johnson’s not especially fast, but he has good hands
(just four drops on 134 targets) and more importantly has the trust of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He also apparently has the trust of the
Bills who signed him to a five-year deal with $19.5 million guaranteed. As such, he’s the team’s clear No. 1 receiver and should continue to see a fair amount of work in the red zone.

26. DESEAN JACKSON, EAGLES
While Jackson didn’t show the same efficiency last season as he had during the previous two, he was still a dangerous big-play threat, averaging 9.2 YPT (8th) and hauling in five passes of 40-plus yards in 15 games. At 5-10, 175, Jackson is one of the fastest and shiftiest players in the entire league. He’s able blow by defenders off the line, or shake them and sprint by them in the open field.
Jackson saw 14 red-zone looks last year, but only seven of those were from inside the 10, and the Eagles are more apt to lean on running back LeSean McCoy and tight end Brent Celek near pay dirt. Jackson signed a five-year, $51.1 million deal with the Eagles in March, something that should guarantee him another 100-odd targets at a minimum.

27. ERIC DECKER, BRONCOS
Decker started off strong last year, then disappeared down the stretch as Tim Tebow locked in on Demaryius Thomas as his top receiver. While Thomas is the better athlete and has the higher ceiling, the arrival of Peyton Manning in Denver means there’s now room for two productive wideouts at the same time. As such, the 63, 218-pound Decker finds himself in a good spot. With Thomas banged up this offseason, Decker, who has himself recovered from a sprained MCL, has been working out with Manning since the day he signed and apparently is developing a rapport. Decker’s not a burner, but he’s got decent speed for his size, and he’s a polished route runner, something that should matter a lot more with Manning than it did with Tebow.
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28. ROBERT MEACHEM, CHARGERS
A former first-round draft pick with good size and speed, Meachem never graduated from role player to featured target in New Orleans’ diverse offense. This year, he takes his wares to San Diego where he should compete for targets with talented but less established players in Vincent Brown and Malcom Floyd. Meachem put up strong per-play numbers again in 2011, 15.5 YPC, 10.3 YPT on 60 targets. He’ll be in a favorable passing environment with Philip
Rivers and good weather year round. Meachem underwent minor arthroscopic knee surgery in late January, but was a full participant in the Chargers voluntary workouts in April and should be 100 percent healthy for the start of training camp.

29. TORREY SMITH, RAVENS
Smith averaged 16.8 YPC and 8.8 YPT on 96 looks, with four catches of 40-plus yards and seven scores, despite playing through a sports hernia for part of the year. At 6-0, 205, Smith has decent size, excellent speed and plus ball skills. He’s not a great route runner, so Anquan Boldin should continue to see most of the targets underneath. But Smith is the team’s big-play weapon. Smith saw just 10 targets in the red zone last year, something that’s not likely to change with the bigger Boldin on the opposite side and two pass-catching tight ends.

30. KENNY BRITT, TITANS
Britt looked like an easy top-10 receiver through two games last year – 14 catches, 271 yards and three TDs – before a torn ACL in
Week 3 ended his season. This year he’ll have to adjust to secondyear man Jake Locker, but Locker looked more than competent in limited work last year. Britt’s rehab hit a snag in May when he had to have a follow-up arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. While the procedure was relatively minor, it’s obviously not a good sign that it was needed at all. His availability for the start of training camp and even Week 1 are up in the air at press time, and if he does make it back, it remains to be seen whether he’ll retain all of his burst and cutting ability.

31. REGGIE WAYNE, COLTS
Cursed with the combination of Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky,
Wayne unsurprisingly turned in the least efficient season of his career, averaging just 7.3 YPT (24th) and scoring only four touchdowns on 131 targets. At 33, Wayne isn’t as fast as he once was, and at 6-0, 198, has only average size. The Colts apparently still think he has something left in the tank as they signed him to a three-year extension in March, with $7.5 million guaranteed. He’ll partner up this season with rookie No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck, one of the most NFL-ready quarterbacks to come out of college in the last decade. We’d expect the targets and receptions to be there as usual, but unless the Colts go back to using Wayne heavily in the red zone, the touchdowns will likely be scarce again in 2012.

32. SIDNEY RICE, SEAHAWKS
After a hip injury limited Rice to just six games in 2010, a shoulder injury and two concussions last year cut short his season after nine.
He wound up having offseason surgery on both shoulders, though he is expected to be completely healthy for the start of training camp. At 6-4, 203, and with good quickness for his height, Rice is the player with the size and athleticism to operate down field and in the red zone. The Seahawks acquired tight end Kellen Winslow this offseason, but they virtually ignored the position in the passing game for the second year in a row last season. With newly signed

Matt Flynn the favorite to win the quarterback, the Seahawks could evolve into more of a downfield passing team this season, something that could benefit Rice.

33. PIERRE GARCON, REDSKINS
Garcon’s body of work wasn’t all that impressive last year – 7.1
YPT, 13.5 YPC for the supposed deep threat. But when you consider the quarterback situation – Curtis Painter for most of the year, followed by Dan Orlovsky – and that Garcon still managed four plays for 40 or more yards, it’s perhaps not so bad. Garcon has good size and 4.4 speed, a combination that should make him
Robert Griffin III’s big play threat from the start. While Garcon has competition for targets in Santana Moss, Josh Morgan, Leonard
Hankerson and tight end Fred Davis, we have to think he’ll be the featured option given his contract. Griffin’s readiness as a pocket passer is probably the biggest variable in Garcon’s value this year.

34. SANTONIO HOLMES, JETS
Holmes’ first full season as a Jet can only be considered a disappointment, with meager per-play averages of 6.5 YPT and 12.8
YPC. The speedy wideout had just eight catches of 20 yards or more on 102 targets and failed to break a play for 40-plus all season. Holmes’ struggles could largely be attributed to knee, quad, shoulder and foot injuries through which he played, Brian
Schottenheimer’s conservative play calling and also Mark Sanchez’s inconsistency at quarterback. The Jets apparently believe that to be the case as they replaced Schottenheimer with Tony Sparano.
Sanchez isn’t going anywhere, however, and though the team brought in Tim Tebow, it’s unlikely he’d be any kind of solution to what ails Holmes. Nonetheless, Holmes is still in his prime and has the speed, quickness and playmaking ability to be a No. 1 wideout.

35. DARRIUS HEYWARD-BEY, RAIDERS
Heyward-Bey averaged a respectable 15.2 YPC and 8.5 YPT (16th) while leading the Raiders with 115 looks. Known for his blazing speed and suspect hands, he dropped just six passes all season and brought in three plays of 40-plus yards. Heading into 2012, he has a good chance to be Carson Palmer’s No. 1 target, but
Denarius Moore and, to a lesser extent, Jacoby Ford are also in the mix. Still, in Year 4 and with a serviceable quarterback in place, there’s room for more growth here.

36. GREG LITTLE, BROWNS
Little saw a featured role in the Browns offense – 121 looks – but struggled a good deal as a rookie. For starters, he dropped 12 passes (tied for 2nd, despite having at least 20 fewer targets than the other drop leaders), and his 5.9 YPT ranked him dead last among all 100-target receivers. Of course, some of that had to do with poor quarterback play, and to remedy that the Browns drafted
Brandon Weeden to compete with Colt McCoy – though it’s hard to see either being even an average signal caller in 2012, andTrent
Richardson will likely be the focal point of the offense anyway.

37. JUSTIN BLACKMON, JAGUARS
The fifth overall pick in the 2012 draft, Blackmon is a highly polished prospect who should vie to be the Jaguars’ top target right out of the gate. Blackmon’s not blowing anyone away with his physical skills, but he’s an excellent route runner, possesses soft hands and did nothing but make plays throughout his college career.The Jaguars quarterback situation is arguably the worst in the league right now with Blaine Gabbert showing nothing during
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WIDE RECEIVER SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

his rookie year, and Chad Henne failing to distinguish himself since coming into the league. But with only Laurent Robinson and Mike
Thomas as competition for targets, Blackmon has a chance to be the focus of the passing game as a rookie.

38. DENARIUS MOORE, RAIDERS
A fifth-round pick in last year’s draft, Moore rode a strong training camp into a prominent role before foot issues cost him three games late in the season. Moore is more of an acrobatic playmaker, in the mold of a younger Chad Johnson, able to adjust to the ball in the air and secure it with solid hands (only one drop). He averaged 18.7
YPC and 8.1 YPT on 76 looks, and posted three 100-yard games.
The Raiders have a few talented but inconsistent/injury prone receivers on their roster, so the pecking order among Moore,
Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jacoby Ford remains to be seen. But with Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers in the division, chances are the Raiders will have to air it out this year.

39. MIKE WILLIAMS, BUCCANEERS

reportedly back down to 185 this season in the hope of retaining his trademark quickness and long speed at age 33. Moss finally has some competition for targets this year as the team signed Pierre
Garcon and Josh Morgan. Last year’s third-round pick, Leonard
Hankerson, is expected to be healthy following hip surgery.

43. LANCE MOORE, SAINTS
Groin and hamstring injuries cost Moore two games last year, but when healthy he played his usual role – catching short passes, both between the 20s and in the red zone. Most importantly Drew Brees trusts him, and the Saints call his number from in close – 16 redzone targets, seven looks from inside the 10, resulting in eight scores for the second year in a row. Robert Meachem is gone, but
Marques Colston was re-signed, and Darren Sproles is certain to reprise a large role in the underneath passing game, so don’t expect a huge uptick in targets.

44. MICHAEL CRABTREE, 49ERS

After a promising rookie season, Williams fell off the map in Year 2, averaging just 11.9 YPC, 6.2 YPT (31st among the league’s 32 100target WR) and scoring just three times (down from 11 in 2010).
The precise reasons for the drop-off are hard to pinpoint, but quarterback Josh Freeman also played considerably worse, and the
Buccaneers went from 10-6 to 4-12. Williams will likely no longer be
Freeman’s go-to guy, and a drop in targets should follow suit after
Tampa signed Vincent Jackson this offseason. He’ll still be in the mix, but so will Arrelious Benn, and newly signed tight end Dallas
Clark will get his looks as well.

Considering he played in a run-first offense and for a defense-oriented team, Crabtree’s third season constituted progress. For starters, Crabtree caught 63 percent of the passes thrown his way
(7th) and brought in three passes of 40-plus yards. His 7.7 YPT was below average, but still a career high as he and Alex Smith were more on the same page. The 49ers put his skills to use in the red zone (17 targets), but only four of those were from inside the 10.
Crabtree, who has battled a foot injury since his rookie year, has been a constant attendee at the team’s strength and conditioning program this offseason, and at press time claimed to feel healthier than at any point in his NFL career.

40. ANQUAN BOLDIN, RAVENS

45. NATE WASHINGTON, TITANS

After escaping Larry Fitzgerald’s shadow in Arizona, Boldin’s been something of a disappointment as the lead dog in Baltimore.
Despite playing 14 games and seeing 15 red-zone looks, he scored just three touchdowns and managed just one play of 40-or-more yards. He did have 15 catches of 20-plus on 106 targets. At 6-1,
218, Boldin’s a tough physical receiver, unafraid to make plays in traffic and able to snatch the ball out of the air with defenders around him. He’s athletic and highly competitive, but lacks the speed to beat defenders down the field. He seems more or less the same player he was in Arizona, but without the high target volume as the Ravens are a run-first team with a strong defense that likes to spread the ball around.

Very quietly, Washington was the 16th most valuable receiver last year in standard leagues. Some of that was due to Kenny Britt missing most of the year with a torn ACL, but Washington was productive during the two weeks when Britt was healthy. He wasn’t targeted much in the red zone, however, something that’s not likely to change given his slight frame. Heading into 2012, Britt should be back, the Titans drafted WR Kendall Wright in the first round and second-year quarterback Jake Locker is set to take over as starter.

41. MALCOM FLOYD, CHARGERS
Outside of Jordy Nelson, Floyd was easily the most efficient 70-target receiver in the league last year, posting 12.2 YPT and 19.9 YPC.
The problem, as always for Floyd, was staying healthy. With Vincent
Jackson now in Tampa Bay, and Antonio Gates another year older and dealing with chronic foot problems, Floyd has a decent chance to become Philip Rivers’ top target. The arrival of Robert Meachem and the expected development of Vincent Brown means Floyd’s not the only game in town, but in San Diego’s offense, he doesn’t need to be. With good health and some extra red-zone work, there’s significant upside here.

42. SANTANA MOSS, REDSKINS
A broken hand cost Moss four games last year, but even when healthy, he was neither productive, nor efficient. Moss averaged a meager 6.1 YPT, down from 7.7 in 2010 and had just one catch of more than 40 yards. Perhaps having added weight slowed him down as Moss played at around 200 pounds, a lot for his 5-10 frame. He’s

46. ALSHON JEFFERY, BEARS
At 6-3, 216, the 45th overall pick in this year’s draft could be involved in the Bears offense right away. Jeffery’s not particularly fast, and the Bears envision him operating out of the slot. That means he’d have to beat out the more polished Earl Bennett. It could happen eventually, but our bet is on Bennett in the near term.
That said, if Jeffery were to win the job, his red-zone skills give him added upside.

47. LAURENT ROBINSON, JAGUARS
After not being retained by the Rams during the spring, Robinson landed in San Diego in August, was released from the Chargers late in training camp, landed in Dallas in early September, was released from the Cowboys in mid-September and re-signed by the
Cowboys a week later. Then somehow – even though the Cowboys had Dez Bryant and Jason Witten and even Miles Austin for a bit –
Robinson caught 11 touchdowns over the last nine weeks. He was able to make big plays in Dallas with 15.9 YPC and 10.6 YPT last year, but the Jacksonville passing game – led by Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne – is a far cry from what he had with the Cowboys.
Moreover, the Jaguars drafted Justin Blackmon with the No. 5 overall pick, so Robinson will have competition for targets.
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48. DOUG BALDWIN, SEAHAWKS
Baldwin set a record last year for most receiving yards by an undrafted rookie with 788, and despite playing with Tarvaris
Jackson as his quarterback, managed a whopping 9.1 YPT and
15.5 YPC. With Sidney Rice and Mike Williams likely to return from injuries, targets could be harder to come by in 2012. But Baldwin typically operated out of the slot last year, a role that wouldn’t be overly compromised by having Seattle’s starters out wide. Should
Matt Flynn preside over the offense as expected, the passing game could get a lift. Make sure to give Baldwin a boost in PPR leagues.

49. NATE BURLESON, LIONS
Burleson’s cosmetic numbers look a lot better than his rate stats. In fact, on 110 targets, Burleson had just seven receptions of 20-plus yards and only one for more than 40. Despite seeing little defensive attention opposite Calvin Johnson, Burleson was inefficient and also struggled to hold onto the ball (10 drops, 5th). Heading into
2012, Burleson should again start opposite Johnson, but Titus
Young and tight ends Tony Scheffler and Brandon Pettigrew will again cut into his workload, and rookie second-round draft pick
Ryan Broyles (ACL tear) might emerge as a factor.

50. RANDY MOSS, 49ERS
After a bizarre season in 2010 where he played for three teams, two of which acquired him and then summarily ignored him, Moss sat out all of last year, seemingly retired. In any event, arguably the greatest downfield threat the NFL has ever known is in camp with the 49ers. Moss, now 35, claims he can still run a 4.3 40 and looked fit and fast while practicing with quarterback Alex Smith in
May. Even so, a return to anything close to his 2009 level is a major long shot, especially in an Smith-led offense and with plenty of competition for targets in Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham,
Vernon Davis and first-round rookie A.J. Jenkins.

51. TITUS YOUNG, LIONS
Playing in the shadow of Calvin Johnson, Young had a productive rookie season. But looking deeper, he averaged just 7.1 YPT and
12.6 YPC, while usually facing single coverage in a potent offense.
Besides Johnson dominating the targets, Nate Burleson is still around, the team often throws to its two pass-catching tight ends and it drafted receiver Ryan Broyles (who’s coming back from an
ACL tear) in the second round.

52. MARIO MANNINGHAM, 49ERS
After a highly efficient breakout season in 2010 (10.3 YPT),
Manningham fell off the map last year with a meager 6.8 YPT, despite playing in one of the league’s best passing games. That said, a knee injury cost him four games and likely limited him in several more. The Giants let Manningham leave as a free agent, and the 49ers swooped him up in March, signing him to a two-year deal with $4.74 million guaranteed. That’s not enough money to guarantee him significant targets in a suddenly crowded receiving corps
(Michael Crabtree, Randy Moss, A.J. Jenkins) on a run-first team that also features an elite pass-catching tight end in Vernon Davis.
But Jenkins is a rookie, Moss is a wild card and Crabtree’s been a disappointment so far, so there’s opportunity here if Manningham seizes it.

53. DAVONE BESS, DOLPHINS
Bess averaged just 6.2 YPT and 10.5 YPC, low numbers even for a possession receiver. He failed to reach 100 yards in any game and

scored just three touchdowns. At 5-10, 190, Bess isn’t a red-zone threat, and he’s not someone who can burn defenses down the field, either. The Dolphins are installing a more up-tempo offense this season under new coach Joe Philbin, but that assumes one of the veterans – David Garrard or Matt Moore – wins the starting quarterback job. If it’s No. 8 overall pick Ryan Tannehill, there could be some growing pains. Bess partially tore is ACL and MCL in last season’s final game, but didn’t require surgery and at press time was looking sharp during organized team activities.

54. RUEBEN RANDLE, GIANTS
With Mario Manningham leaving via free agency, the Giants will need to find a new No. 3 receiver. Randle, the team’s second round pick, has a good chance to secure the role. The Giants passing game generated the sixth most yards in league history last season, and starter Hakeem Nicks has had durability issues in the past and is nursing a surgically repaired foot that might threaten his status for
Week 1. Randle – should he hold off Ramses Barden and Jerrel
Jernigan – has some upside in this environment.

55. AUSTIN COLLIE, COLTS
After a breakout half-season in 2010, cut short by repeated concussions, Collie went back to obscurity last year when Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky replaced Peyton Manning. In 2012, Collie will have to adjust to another quarterback, albeit one of the best prospects in the last several years in Andrew Luck. With Pierre
Garcon in Washington, Collie is expected to start opposite Reggie
Wayne this year and could carve out a big role in the offense. How effective that offense is largely depends on Luck’s development.

56. BRIAN QUICK, RAMS
If you want to throw a dart at one Rams receiver, we’d go with the
6-2, 220-pound rookie Quick. While Quick is raw, needs to work on his route running and takes a while to get up to full speed, he’s big, strong and fast enough to get downfield. He’s also got long arms and excellent reach, something that allows him to play even bigger.
It remains to be seen how quickly he’ll acquire the polish to be an effective NFL receiver, but the Rams will give him a chance to win a starting job in camp, and he’s got the most upside of their otherwise underwhelming crew.

57. KENDALL WRIGHT, TITANS
With Kenny Britt still working his way back from ACL surgery, the
Titans used their first-round pick on Wright. At 5-10, 196, Wright isn’t big, but he’s strong and compact and has excellent quickness and burst. For now, he’s slated to be the team’s third receiver at best, behind Britt and Nate Washington. But Britt’s recovery isn’t complete (he actually had a setback and needed a second procedure). If second-year quarterback Jake Locker progresses, there could be some opportunities in the Tennessee passing game.

58. JACOBY FORD, RAIDERS
Foot problems derailed Ford’s season, but he’s still very much part of the team’s plans. The Raiders suddenly have some depth at the receiving position with the emergence of Denarius Moore and
Darrius Heyward-Bey last year, so the targets will be split among the three. But Ford is so explosive he doesn’t need a ton of volume to produce. His ceiling looks something like the Eagles’ DeSean
Jackson, but he’ll have to stay healthy and find a rapport with quarterback Carson Palmer. Bump him up in leagues that count return yards. 23

WIDE RECEIVER SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

59. DANNY AMENDOLA, RAMS
The small, scrappy Amendola caught 86 balls in 2010, but elbow and triceps injuries cost him most of last season. Sam Bradford seemed to trust him during his rookie year, and that’s worth something in PPR leagues. Don’t expect big yardage numbers or touchdowns, however. Amendola declared himself 100 percent healthy, so it looks like last year’s injuries are behind him.

60. STEPHEN HILL, JETS
Someone other than Santonio Holmes has to see targets for the
Jets, and it might turn out to be the physically gifted Hill. The problem is he’s extremely raw, with little experience running anything other than straight-line routes. He need only leapfrog the unestablished and oft-injured Chaz Schilens to find himself starting Week 1.

61. JAMES JONES, PACKERS
Being a 55-target, No. 4 receiver is fairly useless – unless you play for the Packers. Jones averaged a whopping 11.5 YPT and 16.7
YPC, giving him 635 yards and seven scores despite just five redzone looks all year. Keep in mind that last year’s second-round draft pick Randall Cobb is quicker and more versatile than Jones and could see a bigger role in the offense. And in any event, Greg
Jennings, Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley are Aaron Rodgers’ top targets.

62. JONATHAN BALDWIN, CHIEFS
Last year’s first-round pick, Baldwin got off to a rocky start, breaking his thumb in a locker room brawl with Thomas Jones and missing the first five games of the season. When he came back he was only intermittently involved in the offense, netting 53 targets in 11 games, but averaging an abysmal 4.8 YPT. At 6-4, 230, and with good speed for a player his size, Baldwin has all the physical tools to be a No. 1 wideout if he applies himself. Baldwin had reportedly been working on his route running and sharpening his understanding of the playbook this offseason, so there’s a good chance for growth in his second year. He’ll likely begin as the team’s No. 3 wideout, though it’s worth noting that Dwayne Bowe’s unhappiness with his franchise tag could portend a holdout.

63. BRIAN HARTLINE, DOLPHINS
Hartline showed some signs a year ago that he could be a productive NFL receiver, with 15.7 YPC and 8.3 YPT despite quarterback play that was average at best. Just keep in mind that was with
Brandon Marshall drawing double teams. Hartline has decent size, good speed and solid hands (only three drops), and he has enough height and reach to go over smaller defensive backs. Moreover, the
Dolphins – led by former Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe
Philbin – are installing a more timing-based up-tempo offense, something that should benefit the passing game as a whole. It would probably be better for Hartline if Matt Moore or even David
Garrard were to win the Dolphins’ quarterback job over rookie Ryan
Tannehill, but all three will compete during camp.

64. EDDIE ROYAL, CHARGERS
The Chargers brought in Royal (along with Robert Meachem) to replace the production lost when Vincent Jackson signed with
Tampa Bay. The Bolts intend to use Royal primarily in the slot and on punt returns, but he is very likely to bounce back from a disappointing 2011 season where he only caught 19 balls. Royal will have stiff competition for looks in the high flying San Diego passing

attack, but he has some legitimate upside and could easily catch 40 balls if he builds any sort of rapport with Philip Rivers.

65. JEROME SIMPSON, VIKINGS
At worst, the Vikings will know where to go if conventional medicine isn’t providing relief. Simpson, who’s best known for being caught receiving 2.5 pounds of marijuana at his home – and also doing a forward flip over a defender into the end zone last year – will miss the first three games, but when he returns has a chance to start.
With Adrian Peterson coming back from a torn ACL, and Christian
Ponder likely to throw more in his second season, Simpson could have a prominent role in the offense once he returns.

66. EARL BENNETT, BEARS
Bennett missed most of the first half of the year with a chest injury before returning in Week 9 and recording three straight games of
75-plus yards. Then Cutler went down in Week 12, and Bennett was scarcely heard from again. He’s an ideal possession/slot receiver alongside the bigger and more dynamic Brandon Marshall, (Cutler’s other favorite receiver), who should draw most of the coverage.
Maybe second-round pick Alshon Jeffrey supplants him as the team’s possession option, but Bennett’s a good bet to be the most targeted wideout on the team after Marshall.

67. DAVID NELSON, BILLS
Nelson reeled in 61 catches, 658 yards and five scores isn’t bad for a second-year undrafted free agent on a run-first team. But Nelson averaged just 6.7 YPT and 10.8 YPC and had just seven catches of
20 yards or more on 98 targets. At 6-5, 220, Nelson has excellent red-zone size and did see 11 looks from inside the 10 (tied for 3rd with Calvin Johnson), so he’s got some scoring upside should he retain his role as the slot man in the offense.

68. MICHAEL FLOYD, CARDINALS
The 13th overall pick in this year’s draft, Floyd finds himself in a favorable situation in Arizona. Given the team’s lack of quality depth at wide receiver, Floyd has a chance to start opposite Larry
Fitzgerald out of the gate. That means a lot of single coverage and a fair number of targets on a team that doesn’t throw much to its backs or tight ends. Floyd is an athletic playmaker and solid routerunner. He’s got good hands and excellent ball skills, a problem for smaller defenders. He’s also tough to bring down after the catch. Of course, Andre Roberts and Early Doucet are still around, so Floyd isn’t a lock to start right away, and neither quarterback vying for the job – Kevin Kolb or John Skelton – is above average.

69. DEVERY HENDERSON, SAINTS
While the departure of Robert Meachem probably doesn’t affect the rest of the receivers much, it could stand to benefit Henderson. Both players served as designated deep threats, and now Henderson could have the role to himself. He’s never been much of a red-zone presence, so he’s unlikely to be a source of touchdowns.
Nonetheless, he’s the likely No. 3 wideout in the most prolific passing offense in league history, and that has to count for something in fantasy football.

70. JOE ADAMS, PANTHERS
Coach Ron Rivera compared Adams to DeSean Jackson, which will certainly lift some eyebrows, though he showed in college that he can be a great special teams player. While this is great for fantasy

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WIDE RECEIVER SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

leagues that reward points for return yards, he'll likely not be as impressive in standard leagues. Due to the Panthers' relatively weak wide receiver depth chart after Steve Smith, Adams could make his way into the starting lineup at some point.

71. MOHAMED SANU, BENGALS
With Andy Dalton coming off a promising rookie year, and A.J.
Green sure to draw the bulk of the defense’s attention, Sanu finds himself in a more favorable environment than most rookies. Jordan
Shipley is also around, but he’ll mostly work out of the slot, so Sanu should challenge for a starting job. Rookie Marvin Jones could also push for some targets, however, and there’s always a chance the team brings in a veteran.

72. DEVIN HESTER, BEARS
Every year the Bears vow to give the best return man in league history more opportunities at wide receiver, but they rarely seem to follow through. Last year was no exception as Hester saw just 56 targets in 16 games.This year, the Bears’ new playbook apparently features a package specifically designed for Hester, but that means little unless they plan to use it more than occasionally. The problem is even when Hester does get targeted, the results are typically underwhelming. Of course, Hester is a must-own if your league counts return yardage, and he still does have blazing speed, unmatched vision in the open field and elite quickness. But the odds are against a big role especially with Brandon Marshall and rookie Alshon Jeffery now in the fold.

73. EMMANUEL SANDERS, STEELERS
A foot injury cost Sanders five games last year, but by that point he had already been supplanted by Antonio Brown as Ben
Roethlisberger’s co-favorite receiver (along with Mike Wallace). At 511, 180, Sanders is small, but he’s got excellent speed, running a
4.4 40 at the NFL Combine a couple years ago and good quickness. With Hines Ward retiring and Wallace unhappy, Sanders could have an opening to take on a more significant role. But chances are he opens the year as the team’s No. 3 receiver.

74. JOSH MORGAN, REDSKINS
A fractured ankle cost Morgan most of 2011, but to that point he had averaged 14.7 YPC and 11.0 YPT on 20 targets. Morgan signed with the Redskins in March and enters a crowded field of receivers including Santana Moss, Pierre Garcon and Leonard
Hankerson as well as tight end Fred Davis. But Morgan has a chance to start opposite Garcon as Moss is 33 years old, and
Hankerson has yet to establish himself. If Robert Griffin is as NFLready as advertised, and Morgan wins the job, he’ll be worth a look.

75. BRANDON LAFELL, PANTHERS
Someone has to start opposite Steve Smith, and it appears LaFell is the most likely candidate. LaFell saw just 56 targets last year, but put 10.9 YPT and 17 YPC. At 6-3, 206, and with good long speed,
LaFell has the physical tools to produce, but Cam Newton leaned heavily on Smith and then spread the rest of the targets around between LaFell, the team’s tight ends and other receivers.

25

TIGHT END SEASON PROFILES
Player Profiles are based on season outlooks and re-ranked as events warrant during training camp.

1. JIMMY GRAHAM, SAINTS
This space last season said Graham had the potential to to be a top-five tight end, but even that underestimated his upside. Graham proved himself an elite tight end, rivaled only by New England's allworld Rob Gronkowski, as he led the position with 99 receptions.
Graham is obviously in a great situation as the top target in the prolific New Orleans offense. He never saw fewer than seven targets in a game last year, and his 149 targets ranked fifth among all receivers, 23 more than the next closest tight end. In the red zone, he led all tight ends with 28 targets, and his 13 targets inside the
10-yard line were second only to Gronkowski. “Gronk” might be a better tight end, but Graham isn't far behind and won't cost as much at the draft table, which makes him the top TE this season.

2. ROB GRONKOWSKI, PATRIOTS
The presumption entering last season was that sharing targets would prevent both of the Patriots' standout tight ends from flourishing. Gronkowski proved that idea false, and then some. Although he indeed shared targets with Aaron Hernandez (124-113),
Gronkowski posted the best statistical season for a tight end in NFL history. He's expected to be ready for the season after offseason ankle surgery, though the injury should be monitored in training camp. The addition of Brandon Lloyd likely will cost Gronkowski targets, and if one of the Patriots' free-agent darts (Jabar Gaffney,
Anthony Gonzalez, Donte Stallworth) pans out, that'll be felt too.
And Hernandez is still around, vying for tight-end targets, too.

3. ANTONIO GATES, CHARGERS
Gates once again battled injuries in 2011, playing only 13 games. He has now missed nine games the last two seasons. And that doesn't consider the games he played through injuries – after missing three early season games last year he didn't return to top shape until midseason. Phillip Rivers should turn in a better season after a four-year low 7.7 YPA, and Gates is still his first look in the red zone and near the goal line. With the loss of Vincent Jackson, Gates should see his targets (88 last season) surpass 100 again and should return to elite tight-end status – provided he stays healthy.

4. AARON HERNANDEZ, PATRIOTS
Hernandez finished last season with 79 receptions for 910 yards and seven touchdowns, stellar stats that are even more impressive considering he’s not the top tight end on his own team. Hernandez had only nine fewer targets than counterpart Rob Gronkowski, even though he played in two fewer games, and he was targeted more often in the red zone (25-24), inside the 10-yard line (17-7) and inside the 5 (8-2). The addition of Brandon Lloyd means another mouth to feed in the passing game but that could also enable
Hernandez to get single coverage all season. Don’t let him fall too far just because he’s on the same team as Gronkowski.

5. VERNON DAVIS, 49ERS
Davis saw two more targets and caught 11 more passes last year than in 2010, yet his yardage dropped by 122, and he had one fewer touchdown, all of which earned him the “disappointing” label for his work last season. Much of the difference appears to stem from his yards after catch, which dropped from a position-high 457 in 2010 to 346 last season (7th). Inside the red zone, Davis' targets

= Rising

= Falling

dropped to nine (from 13) thanks in part to the 17 targets that went
Michael Crabtree's way. The 49ers' receiving corps also figures to be the deepest Davis has seen since he entered the league. Don't expect Davis to re-join the upper echelon of tight ends, but he should provide solid numbers as a mid-round pick in most formats with the occasional standout fantasy week.

6. FRED DAVIS, REDSKINS
Davis was en route to a breakout year before a four-game suspension for recreational drugs cut his season short. Prorating his 796 receiving yards to a full 16 games gives him 1,061 yards, which would have ranked third among tight ends, short of only Rob
Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham. One of the league's more explosive tight ends who gets open down field with his quickness, Davis tied for third among tight ends with 15 catches of 20-plus yards, despite playing only 12 games. Improved quarterback play will only help his situation. And even if rookie Robert Griffin struggles, he'll likely look to Davis as his dump-off target. With only a middling wide-receiver corps to compete with, Davis should have no trouble picking up where he left off last season.

7. JERMICHAEL FINLEY, PACKERS
While Finley stayed healthy and played a full 16 games for the first time in his career last year, he didn’t come close to fulfilling his owners' expectations of breaking into the position's elite. Finley finished with 55 receptions (14th among TE), 767 receiving yards
(14th ) and eight touchdowns (third) and didn’t surpass 90 receiving yards in any game. The problem with Finley is his hands, as his
59.8-percent reception rate, 25th among tight ends, costs his owners valuable fantasy points. With so many talented receivers in the
Packers system, Finley's targets figure to be more limited than other tight ends, but if he improves his hands he has the potential to build on last year’s numbers.

8. BRANDON PETTIGREW, LIONS
Pettigrew produced career highs across the board last season, but his modest numbers were a letdown for fantasy owners considering he was targeted 126 times, second among tight ends, by a quarterback who threw for more than 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns.
Pettigrew caught only 65.9 percent of his targets last season, leading to just 55 more receiving yards than in 2010. And while he doubled his red-zone looks to 22, he managed only one more score with five touchdowns. Tony Scheffler is still around to poach opportunities. The bright side is Pettigrew is in one of the league's best passing offenses, which should continue to give him ample targets.
It wouldn't take much for him to see a major boost in fantasy production.

9. TONY GONZALEZ, FALCONS
Just when it looked like age was finally catching up to him,
Gonzalez dodged Father Time and posted three-year highs in receiving yards and touchdowns last season. Gonzalez was effective in getting open down field as he led the Falcons with eight catches of 20-plus yards and recorded 7.5 yards per target, his highest since 2007. Atlanta will again think run first, and Julio Jones will become more involved in the offense this year, so be careful to not pay for last season’s numbers. Still, Gonzalez should continue to be a presence in the offense as the third receiving option.

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TIGHT END SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

10. JASON WITTEN, COWBOYS
Witten came out of the gate hot last season, recording 366 receiving yards over his first four games but only 576 over his final 12. His five touchdowns were down markedly from the nine he had the previous season. Laurent Robinson took his 81 targets to Jacksonville, which should help Wittten, who finished with a five-year low 117 targets last season. Witten has recorded 942 to 1,030 receiving yards in each of the last five seasons, so it’s pretty easy to know what to expect. Don't expect a return to his 2010 touchdown numbers, however, as he's had more than seven touchdowns once in his career.
Think of him as a consistent tight end with a limited ceiling.

11. JACOB TAMME, BRONCOS
The Broncos signed Tamme, re-uniting him with Peyton Manning.
Almost completely to Manning’s credit in 2010, Tamme became the fantasy pickup of the season among tight ends, totaling 631 receiving yards and four touchdowns. But don't expect such lofty numbers even if Tamme wins the starting job. First, Joel Dreesen, who scored 10 touchdowns the last two seasons with Houston, also signed with the Broncos, creating the prospect of a timeshare. And, of course, Manning has much to prove health wise before expecting him to do for Tamme this year what he did for him in 2010.

12. OWEN DANIELS, TEXANS
After consecutive injury plagued seasons, Owens remained healthy enough to play 15 games last year. The veteran, who had 85 targets last season, could find himself with a significant increase in targets this season after Joel Dreessen and his 39 targets, six touchdowns, signed with Denver. Health seems to be the biggest factor for
Daniels. Not only his, but Matt Schaub's too. He saw 12 red-zone targets in the first nine games last year, but didn't have one the rest of the season after Schaub went down in Week 10. Assuming good health, expect Daniels to improve upon last year's numbers.

13. JERMAINE GRESHAM, BENGALS
The Bengals loosened the reins on Gresham last season and the second-year tight end showed healthy improvement. Whereas in his rookie season Gresham was limited mainly to short routes, he increased his yards per target by almost a full yard last season and posted 10 receptions of 20-plus yards after not recording one in his first year. While his receptions increased by only four to 56 (though in one less game), his yards increased by 125 to 596. He also scored six touchdowns, seventh among tight ends. Gresham is still developing, but his upside is obvious. A better rapport with Andy
Dalton and greater emphasis in the passing game could pay off big.

14. BRENT CELEK, EAGLES
Celek rebounded from a poor showing in 2010 to increase his receptions by 20 and his receiving yards by 300 last season, thanks to 17 more targets and a significantly improved catch rate (52.5 percent to 63.9 percent). Mike Vick should continue to run less and throw more, which bodes well for Celek to repeat last season’s numbers. Celek had a strong finish to the season, recording 294 receiving yards and three touchdowns over his final three games.
He underwent surgery in the offseason to repair a sports hernia and torn labrum in his left hip but is expected to be healthy for camp.

15. JARED COOK, TITANS
Cook came on strong toward the end of last season, nearly doubling his previous year’s receiving yards with 759. His three touchdowns were a blemish, but the Titans only had 37 red-zone drives,

sixth-fewest in the league, giving Cook just one red-zone score.
His 9.4 yards per target ranked second to Rob Gronkowski (10.7), his 15.5 yards per reception was first. Cook’s biggest problem, though, is his inconsistency as it’s difficult to predict what he’ll do week-to-week. Capitalizing on his strong finish and getting more consistent targets in the passing game (especially in the red zone) are keys to an improved season for Cook.

16. COBY FLEENER, COLTS
The Colts selected Fleener with the 34th pick in the 2012 draft, pairing him with college teammate Andrew Luck. Both fast and powerful, Fleener clocked a 4.45 40 at Stanford's pro day and ranked second among tight ends at the NFL Combine with 27 bench presses at 225 pounds. He’ll likely share some targets with
Dwayne Allen, whom the Colts drafted in the third round, but longtime Colt Dallas Clark is out of the picture, leaving the starting job to Fleener. His familiarity with Luck should make Fleener a prime target, and if the Colts passing attack succeeds this season,
Fleener should make an immediate impact.

17. DUSTIN KELLER, JETS
In his fourth year in the league, Keller turned in a career season. He benefited from a lackluster wideout corps, garnering a team-high
115 targets. Keller's hands, though, continue to be a work in progress as he caught just 56.5 percent of his targets, 28th among qualified tight ends. That led to inconsistency as he posted five games of less than 40 yards receiving. What's more, his 20 redzone targets and nine targets inside the 10-yard line (third among tight ends) suggest he should have found the end zone more often.
Sloppy catching skills, inconsistent production, questions at quarterback – don't expect better than last year's numbers.

18. DALLAS CLARK, BUCCANEERS
Clark signed with Tampa Bay after the Bucs traded Kellen Winslow.
His 1,106-yard season is but a memory, though, as he's played only
17 games the last two seasons because of injuries. Clark missed time last season due to a broken leg and neck injury, but even if he's healthy, it’s tough to see a lot of fantasy value in the 33-yearold in the tough offensive environment of Tampa Bay.

19. GREG OLSEN, PANTHERS
Olsen had completely different halves to last season, starting strong before fading down the stretch. Part of his reduced role was due to
Jeremy Shockey, who isn’t expected to return the Panthers this season. With continued growth from Cam Newton and no other tight end to steal targets, Olsen could be in for a surprising season.
Combining his and Shockey’s stats last season produces 995 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, showing the possible production for a solo Olsen.

20. KYLE RUDOLPH, VIKINGS
Rudolph had a decent rookie season as he saw his role in the offense grow in the second half. The 6-6, 260, tight end caught all three of his touchdowns in the final six games, showing some improved chemistry with Christian Ponder. The Vikings signed John
Carlson, who will compete for tight-end targets. Look for Rudolph to win the starting role and be the bigger factor in the passing game.

21. ED DICKSON, RAVENS
Dickson had a decent season last year, but the post-Todd Heap era didn't propel him into fantasy relevance. Mainly that was because of
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TIGHT END SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

the presence of Dennis Pitta, who took a healthy 56 targets to
Dickson's 89. He's a better athlete than Pitta, but as long as both are used interchangeably, Dickson likely won't climb the fantasy ladder. 22. KELLEN WINSLOW, SEAHAWKS
Winslow posted decent receiving numbers last season (and his 75 catches work well for PPR leagues), but he only found the end zone a career-low twice. The Buccaneers shipped him to Seattle in the offseason where he’ll be the No. 1 tight end. The Seahawks, though, haven’t targeted the position much the last two years under coach Pete Carroll. Until that changes, Winslow’s value is spotty.

23. TONY MOEAKI, CHIEFS
Considering his significant collegiate injury history, it wasn't a great shock when a preseason knee injury cost Moeaki all of 2011.
Moeaki has always shown vast potential when on the field, making acrobatic catches and utilizing deceptive speed and agility at 6-3,
245. The Chiefs brought in Kevin Boss as an insurance policy, but
Moeaki could still have fantasy value if healthy.

24. HEATH MILLER, STEELERS
Miller turned in an almost identical season on a per-game basis for the second consecutive year, proving his 2009 an outlier. His usual numbers, though, translate into little fantasy value at tight end. The emergence of Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace has buried him as a receiving option, and it's unlikely he'll suddenly experience a fantasy boom this season.

25. MARTELLUS BENNETT, GIANTS
Bennett brings his trade to the Giants after spending the last few seasons playing behind Jason Witten in Dallas. The Giants had a hole at tight end with both Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum rehabbing ACL injuries, giving Bennett an opportunity to carve out a prominent role in the passing game. Bennett could prosper working between the numbers with Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks attracting attention on the outside. And at 6-6, 270, he's a huge target in the red zone. Bennett has the talent and opportunity to produce, making him an intriguing fantasy consideration.

28

KICKER SEASON PROFILES
Player Profiles are based on season outlooks and re-ranked as events warrant during training camp.

1. MASON CROSBY, PACKERS
Crosby benefited last season from the NFL’s top scoring offense, which should be equally potent in 2012. Crosby finished with 140 points, fourth overall, on the strength of 68 PAT conversions, the second-highest total in league history. His 69 attempts rank third all time. It's too much to expect another all-time performance, but that could help Crosby. His 28 field-goal attempts ranked just 20th in the league last season (24 makes on a career-high 85.7 percent). A handful fewer touchdowns resulting in a handful more field goals would have vaulted Crosby to second in the league in scoring last season. Either way, the dominance of the Packers offense makes
Crosby one of the safest kickers around.

2. SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI, RAIDERS
As expected, Janikowski took a step back from his 142-point 2010 performance, but he still posted a fantasy-worthy 129 points last season. For leagues that reward long-distance field goals, he was even more valuable, hitting 7-of-10 from 50-plus. Few kickers are as trusted from long range as Janikowski, who has attempted at least seven field goals of 50-plus in six consecutive seasons, including making an NFL record-tying 63-yarder Week 1 last season. Unlike many top kickers, though, Janikowski isn’t supported by a prolific offense, which is why it was reasonable to assume the
Raiders wouldn't again offer Janikowski 40-plus field goals and 40plus PATs as in 2010. Still, 35 and 36, respectively, are healthy numbers, and Janikowski helped himself by improving his field-goal accuracy to 88.6 percent. Improved play from Carson Palmer this season should give Janikowski enough opportunities to match last season's production.

3. DAVID AKERS, 49ERS
Deemed expendable after the Eagles drafted Alex Henery, Akers rewarded San Francisco with NFL season-single records of 166 points and 44 made field goals last season. The 49ers' conservative offense, inefficiency in the red zone and league-leading turnover ratio amounted to an NFL-record 52 field-goal attempts for Akers – no kicker this century has broken 45 attempts. That number figures to precipitously decline, as do Akers’ point totals. While the 49ers likely will remain dominant defensively, expect the offense to be more aggressive after the team added Mario Manningham, Randy
Moss and A.J. Jenkins to its receiving corps. And San Francisco's
40.7-percent red-zone touchdown efficiency rate, which ranked third lowest in the league, figures to improve. But even if all that cuts as many as 15 field goals off Akers’ 2011 total, it still shouldn’t prevent him from finishing near the top of the league in scoring. He also displayed a strong leg last season, hitting seven field goals of
50-plus yards on nine attempts.

4. STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI, PATRIOTS
It was another predictably high-scoring season last year for
Gostkowski, who reached 143 points on 59 PATs and 28 field goals thanks to one of the league's best offenses. Gostkowski's 33 fieldgoal attempts, which ranked just 11th in the league, were the most of his career outside his 40-attempt 2008 – the year Tom Brady was injured. Meaning, under Brady the Patriots offense is so efficient that hoping for more field goals and fewer PATs for Gostkowski is futile. In fact, after leading the league with 42 red-zone touchdowns in 2010, the Patriots scored 47 last season. While New England's

= Rising

= Falling

touchdown prowess is always a concern for Gostkowski's field-goal chances, few kickers in the league will come close to approaching even 50 PATs, let alone 60. Expect Gostkowski to do that again.

5. DAN BAILEY, COWBOYS
Although the Dallas offense was awash with talent at the skill positions last season, injuries and poor red-zone execution kept it near the middle of the pack in scoring. That was good news for Bailey, though, as it afforded him 37 field-goal attempts, fifth most in the league, en route to 135 points, also fifth most. The Cowboys found the end zone on less than half of their red-zone possessions last year, ranking 20th at 49 percent. While converting more of those into touchdowns will cost Bailey, improved offense overall should help offset a greater red-zone efficiency. An undrafted rookie free agent last year, Bailey ranked ninth with an 86.5 field-goal percentage, including 2-of-4 on 50-yarders. Bailey's biggest obstacle it seems is health of his offense, especially Tony Romo, who was sacked a career-high 36 times last season.

6. JASON HANSON, LIONS
On the strength of Detroit’s 29.5 points per game in 2011, the 41year-old Hanson produced his highest scoring season since 1995.
While Detroit's field-goal attempts held steady at 29 for the third consecutive year, Hanson's PATs increased to a career-high 54, leading to 126 points, ninth in the league. The Lions are expected to be healthier at running back this year, which could provide an added dimension to an already great offense. But a slight regression in touchdowns (63.8 percent red-zone TD efficiency) wouldn’t be terrible news, as it would likely mean an increase in his field goals. And despite his age, Hanson still has plenty of leg, connecting on 5-of-7 from 50-plus yards last season. The Lions' prolific offense should again power Hanson.

7. NATE KAEDING, CHARGERS
Kaeding tore his ACL in Week 1 last year, missing the rest of the season. Nick Novak took his place and scored 122 points (11th in the league) behind a successful, albeit underachieving offense.
Philip Rivers threw a career-high 20 interceptions, hindering an offense that ranked sixth in total yardage. Rivers righted the ship late in the season (12:3 TD:INT the last six games); expect that trend to continue, rewarding Kaeding with plenty of scoring opportunities. As always, Kaeding will benefit from playing half his games in sunny San Diego, though the Chargers play December games in
Pittsburgh and New York. Novak remains on the roster, but it would be a shocker if Kaeding didn’t win the kicking job, assuming his knee is fully recovered.

8. MATT PRATER, BRONCOS
Prater received acclaim in Week 14 for crushing a 59-yarder to force overtime. That was pretty much the highlight, though, as an offense that struggled to move the ball gave Prater few scoring opportunities. His 25 field-goal attempts and 87 points both ranked near the bottom of the league. With Peyton Manning at quarterback, Prater’s numbers could improve, though Manning remains a wild card at 36 years old and a year away from the game. Prater also needs to return his accuracy to his former mid-80 range after kicking 76 percent last year. Consider him a mid-level fantasy kicker with some upside.

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KICKER SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

9. ROBBIE GOULD, BEARS

14. BILL CUNDIFF, RAVENS

Gould has been one of the more consistent kickers the last five seasons, attempting 28 to 36 field goals and converting 83 to 89 percent each year. Gould’s unspectacular PAT numbers prevent him from reaching the elite category, however. His 37 last year were actually a three-year high. A healthy Jay Cutler will help this season, as the Bears scored fewer than 21 points in each of the five games
Cutler missed last season. Gould was 6-for-6 on 50-yarders last season, making him 11-for-13 the last three years after going 0-for2 his first four years in the league.

Cundiff missed a game-tying 32-yarder with 15 seconds remaining in the AFC Championship, concluding a disappointing season for the kicker. Although he scored more points (122) in 2011 than his
Pro Bowl season a year earlier, Cundiff missed nine of 37 field-goal attempts, keeping him outside the top 10 in scoring. Cundiff’s career accuracy rate of 76.7 percent makes him a bit of a liability, but an offense ranking in the lower half of the NFL in red-zone touchdown efficiency the last three years should help Cundiff finish among the league leaders in attempts.

10. ALEX HENERY, EAGLES

15. GARRETT HARTLEY, SAINTS

Henery turned in a solid rookie campaign with 118 points but received few opportunities to showcase his ability from long distance, attempting only six fields from 40 yards and beyond, two from 50-plus. The reduction in the 40-49 range from Philadelphia's
2010 level helped limit Henery to just 27 field-goal attempts. He was undermined in part by an offense that produced the NFL’s second-highest turnover rate and a defense that ranked 20th in takeaways. The Eagles held steady on PATs vs. 2010, and if they provide a few more field-goal opportunities this year, it could boost
Henery up the scoring ladder as he converted at an 88.9 percent clip last season.

A four-game suspension in 2009, accuracy issues in 2010 and a hip injury in 2011 have prevented Hartley from taking control of the
Saints’ kicking duties. In Hartley’s absence last season, the Saints relied on 42-year-old John Kasay, who finished second in the NFL in points at 147. At this stage in their respective careers, the younger Hartley is probably the better kicker, though the aforementioned setbacks have curtailed his development. Because of the offseason shakeup of the Saints coaching staff and the re-signing of
Kasay, which the Saints say was not merely for “insurance,” Hartley is a bit of a risk. He's the favorite to win the job in training camp, but whoever claims the position figures to be one of the top fantasy kickers as the Saints offense was every bit as excellent as the
Patriots and Packers last season – its 75 red-zone drives led the league – and should be again.

11. ROB BIRONAS, TITANS
Bironas is one of the league's more competent kickers, but his value is somewhat diminished by a mediocre Titans offense.
Bironas hit field goals at a 90-percent clip for the second straight season, six of which came from 50-plus. Neither Jake Locker nor
Matt Hasselbeck are likely to provide Bironas with an abundance of scoring opportunities, but last year’s surprising success in the red zone (59.5-percent TD rate, fifth) is unlikely to be sustained, which should allow Bironas to tack on more short field goals this year. His
121 points last season was a three-year high, but he'll be hard pressed to do significantly better this season.

12. MATT BRYANT, FALCONS
Bryant's 2011 campaign was remarkably similar to that of his previous year. He had just two fewer field-goal attempts (29) and one more PAT (45) while improving his field-goal accuracy from 90.3 percent in 2010 to 93.1 percent last season. The stability of the
Atlanta offense under quarterback Matt Ryan and eight games in the comfort of the Georgia Dome should allow Bryant another season of 125-130 points. The only downside is he's not a threat from long range – he's made only six 50-yarders in his 10-year career, two last year. Even so, as Atlanta's offense continues to produce with one of the league's best wideout tandems in Roddy White and
Julio Jones, Bryant should again rank among the league's top kickers.

13. NEIL RACKERS, REDSKINS
Rackers signed with the Redskins this offseason following two successful campaigns in Houston where he made more than 84 percent of his field goals both seasons. Rackers had a healthy 38 fieldgoal attempts last year. Whether he receives that many this season with the Redskins remains to be seen. Holdover Graham Gano ranked second in the league last season with 41 attempts, but with the arrival of rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III, the offensive is a question mark. Rackers must first win the kicking job, but that shouldn't be hard as Gano hardly inspires.

16. MIKE NUGENT, BENGALS
Nugent might have been the biggest fantasy surprise among kickers last season as he finished seventh in scoring with 132 points.
Nugent lived off an offense that couldn't sustain drives. Not only did the Bengals rank 26th in red-zone touchdown efficiency at 45.1 percent, but they made Nugent the league-leader in the 40-yard range as he hit 14-of-16, both numbers NFL highs. That could change this season, however, as Andy Dalton and A.J. Green have a full year under their belts. Additionally, Nugent’s long was just 49 yards last year, further dimming his luster. A marginally improved offense this season likely will reduce Nugent's overall production.

17. LAWRENCE TYNES, GIANTS
Tynes continues to be stymied by the Giants offense, posting identical numbers to the previous year – 19 FGM, 43 PAT, 100 points.
The Giants again proved strong in the red zone, giving Tynes just eight attempts total in the 30-39 range the last two seasons. Tynes doesn't possess great accuracy, either, checking in at an 80.9-percent career mark. The Giants have scored 44-48 touchdowns the last five seasons, but only twice have they topped 27 field-goal attempts. Until that happens, Tynes' value likely will be limited.

18. RANDY BULLOCK, TEXANS
Bullock was selected in the fifth round of April's draft after Houston let Neil Rackers walk. At Texas A&M last year, Bullock nailed 29-of33 field goals with a long of 52 yards. The Texans' multi-dimensional offense makes Bullock an intriguing fantasy commodity. Despite injuries to Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson, Rackers totaled 135 points, sixth in the league. Rackers had only nine PAT attempts the last six weeks with Schaub injured, and his field-goal attempts increased only slightly from 2.2 a game through the first 10 games to 2.6 per game. With Schaub and Johnson healthy and improved red-zone touchdown efficiency (46.7 percent, 25th), Bullock likely

30

KICKER SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

will see fewer than Rackers' 38 field-goal attempts, but that should be offset somewhat by increased PATs – Rackers ranked 11th with
40. That's assuming, of course, the Lou Groza Award winner lives up to his billing.

19. RIAN LINDELL, BILLS
Lindell’s 2011 campaign was marred by a broken shoulder that caused him to miss the second half of the season. Lindell thrived while healthy during the Bills’ 5-3 first half, as a surprisingly solid offense allowed Lindell to rack up 64 points. The offense took a step back in the second half, however, and 2012 could bring more of the same. Lindell’s meager leg strength (4-of-11 on 50-yarders the last four years), nor the Bills playing four of their last five games in the cold of Buffalo will do anything to increase Lindell’s draft stock in fantasy leagues.

20. DAN CARPENTER, DOLPHINS
Carpenter improved his field-goal accuracy by 12 points in 2012, settling in at 85.3 percent, which was more in line with his first two seasons. Even so, a reduction in field goal attempts and a poor offense limited him to just 113 points. Carpenter’s point totals are expected to decline in 2012 with top target Brandon Marshall traded to Chicago and either the raw Ryan Tannehill or the unspectacular Matt Moore likely starting at quarterback. Carpenter could struggle to crack 100 points this season.

21. SHAUN SUISHAM, STEELERS
Suisham has been far from an elite kicker in his career, demonstrating a lack of range (4-of-11 from 50-plus yards) and accuracy (79.5 percent) in his seven seasons. After a career-high 93.3 percent in
2010, he slumped to a league-low 74.2 in 2011. Things don’t figure to get any easier in 2012, as the Steelers play four December games at AFC North venues. Suisham also suffered from a mediocre number of attempts (31 FG, 36 PAT) last season, and that's not likely to significantly change.

22. RYAN SUCCOP, CHIEFS
Injuries decimated the Kansas City offense last season, and the team’s scoring slumped accordingly, ranking 31st in the league. The
NFL’s worst red-zone offense (75-percent scoring efficiency) did little to aid Succop – his 20 PATs were the second fewest among fulltime kickers. The Chiefs have never treated Succop well when it comes to field goals. In fact, last season's 30 attempts were the most of his three-year career. The Chiefs will have Jamaal Charles back this season, but the Kansas City offense is doesn't offer much for a kicker in fantasy terms.

23. STEVEN HAUSCHKA, SEAHAWKS
Hauschka got better last season as the Seahawks offense improved, scoring 65 of his 109 points in the second half of the season. That's not saying much, though, as he received only 30 field-goal attempts and 34 PATs for the year. He wasn't wasn’t much of a threat from long distance either, making 2-of-4 attempts from 50-plus. Any boost in Hauschka’s value is contingent on the effectiveness of new quarterback Matt Flynn in improving the
Seattle offense, which ranked 28th in total yards last season.

24. CONNOR BARTH, BUCCANEERS
The Buccaneers struggled in many areas in 2011, but not in the kicking game. Barth showcased a solid all-around game, kicking for

both accuracy (second in the league at 92.9 percent) and distance
(55-yard field goal in Week 10). But Barth’s fantasy value is dragged down by the performance of his offense. The Bucs provided just 23
PATs and 28 field-goal attempts. Even with significant additions via free agency, Tampa Bay is not expected to leap into the top-10 offensively, and likewise, Barth isn't likely to become a a top fantasy kicker. 25. JAY FEELY, CARDINALS
Feely’s scoring opportunities were fleeting last season, as the
Cardinals struggled mightily to move the ball under Kevin Kolb and
John Skelton, ranking 24th in points per game. Feely was far from immaculate in the chances he did receive, as he hit 19-of-24 field goals (79.2 percent) last season, his lowest conversion rate since
2004. A healthy Kolb and the addition of rookie wideout Michael
Floyd likely will improve the offense's output. But the offense has a ways to go to significantly increase the 24 field-goal attempts and
33 PATs Feely received last season.

26. PHIL DAWSON, BROWNS
Although Dawson scored merely 92 points last season, he made them count for those who owned him, netting seven field goals over
50 yards after not hitting a 50-yarder the previous two seasons.
Dawson has been adequate when given the opportunity, as he’s converted more than 80 percent of his field goals the last six seasons. However, with rookie Brandon Weeden or incumbent Colt
McCoy expected to lead an improving but still uninspiring offense, the Browns will likely struggle to move the ball, severely reducing
Dawson’s fantasy value.

27. JOSH BROWN, JETS
The Jets signed Brown to compete with Nick Folk in camp. Brown was a victim of St. Louis' historically inept offense last season, finishing with 81 points, fewest in the league for a full-time kicker.
More distressing, his accuracy fell to a six-year low 75 percent, and for the first time in his career he did not make a 50-yarder (0-for-2).
While a vastly improved offense will help Brown, his accuracy is a concern, especially considering he'll no longer play half his games at the cushy Edward Jones Dome.

28. GREG ZUERLEIN, RAMS
Zuerlein, a sixth-round draft choice out of Division II Missouri
Western State, is in line to take over the kicking duties after the
Rams released veteran Josh Brown. Although Zuerlein’s name is likely under the radar to even the most avid college football fans, he was highly impressive in his final college season, nailing an NCAArecord 21 consecutive field goals, including nine from 50-plus yards. Zuerlein will be aided by playing nine of his games in domes, but any advantage that presents should be undermined by the inept
Rams offense, which ranked last in the NFL in scoring in 2011.

29. JOSH SCOBEE, JAGUARS
Flanked by one of the more anemic offenses in the league, Scobee had a predictably low-scoring year with only 93 points. Scobee appeared to turn the corner individually in 2011 in spite of the limited kicking opportunities, connecting on a career-high 92 percent of field-goal attempts, including 5-of-6 from 50-plus yards. Still, the 25 attempts tied Scobee’s career low for a full season, and the offense doesn’t project to be dramatically better in 2012. Scobee opted not to sign the franchise tender the Jaguars offered during the offseason, but expect him to be inked before the season starts.

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KICKER SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

30. ADAM VINATIERI, COLTS
Vinatieri’s value dipped with Peyton Manning out for the season, his scoring falling from 129 to 93 points. Vinatieri has never had a big leg (his three 50-plus yarders last year were actually a career high), and his accuracy has been fairly inconsistent year-to-year. In spite of these shortcomings, Vinatieri’s name recognition may land him a few spots higher than he actually should in deeper leagues. Unless
Andrew Luck can quickly turn the Colts into a top-tier offense,
Vinatieri won’t live up to that billing.

31. JUSTIN MEDLOCK, PANTHERS
Medlock will compete with veteran Olindo Mare in training camp after success in the Canadian Football League. The Panthers have

brought in a number of kickers to compete with Mare and it's entirely possible that Medlock could win the job. Whoever kicks should have more opportunities than Mare had last season as Cam
Newton is expected to run less (14 rush TD) and cut his 17 INT.

32. NICK FOLK, JETS
Folk has kicked less than 77 percent his last three seasons, including two in New York, and last year he was limited by the Jets' league-leading 65.5 red-zone touchdown efficiency mark. The Jets signed the strong-legged Josh Brown to compete with Folk in training camp. Perhaps the Jets will offer Folk more than the 25 fieldgoal attempts he had last season, but even if he sees the 38 he had in 2010, his accuracy issues are still a concern. And that's if he even makes the team.

32

TEAM DEFENSE SEASON PROFILES
Player Profiles are based on season outlooks and re-ranked as events warrant during training camp.

1. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

= Rising

= Falling

In just their first year running the team, Niners coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio took an underperforming team and molded them into the most fearsome defensive unit in the league. From a fantasy perspective, there's no reason to think they won't be even better in 2012. The Niners forced 19 fumbles and picked off 23 passes, but only converted one of those turnovers into a defensive touchdown.

short preseason. But by the end of the season, the Eagles' play had improved significantly – enough to land the team in the top 10 for most conventional defensive stats and the eighth overall spot in
Team D scoring. An unconventional alignment of the front seven helped the Eagles get to the quarterback – Jason Babin had 18 and
Trent Cole 11 of the team's NFL-high 50 sacks – but left the team vulnerable against the run. Some new additions at linebacker – most notably ex-Houston Texan DeMeco Ryans and first-round pick
Mychal Kendricks – should help in that regard.

2. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

7. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The 2011 Steelers were best in the NFL at preventing the opposition from both advancing the ball and scoring, but as a fantasy defense they suffered greatly in the counting stats. The Steelers' sacks dropped from 48 in 2010 to 35 last year. The unit recovered just four fumbles (10 forced), second fewest in the league, and intercepted 11 passes (24th), scoring just one touchown. A combined 11 missed games by linebackers LaMarr Woodley and James
Harrison certainly contributed to the letdown. And the Steelers had fewer opportunities for interceptions as they faced nearly 100 fewer pass plays last season after ranking third in 2010 with 641. With health and a little luck (fumbles and touchdowns are fickle things), the Steelers could easily bounce back in the counting stats.

The Seahawks were a passable option in DST leagues last season.
They finished ninth overall in fantasy scoring, tied with the somewhat-disappointing Jets and the pleasantly surprising Bengals.
Seattle doesn't get to the quarterback particularly well, generating just 33 sacks last year. But the Seahawks compensated with a bigplay secondary that intercepted 22 passes and turned four of those into touchdowns. Improving that pass rush is a big priority this season with the drafting of Bruce Irving and the siging of Jason Jones on the interior. More sacks will make the Seahawks a worthy weekly fantasy play this season.

3. BALTIMORE RAVENS

Wade Phillips might not be anything special as a head coach, but he can run a defense. In his first year as the coordinator in Houston,
Phillips re-shaped the Texans into one of the NFL's elite defenses – and did so even after losing top pass rusher Mario Williams to a season-ending pectoral injury in September. By season's end the
Texans were the fourth-ranked defense in the league. Williams is gone, as is long-time ILB DeMeco Ryans. But the Texans probably won't miss a beat, thanks to the continued development of players like Connor Barwin (11.5 sacks last season) J.J. Watt (5.5) and
Brian Cushing (114 tackles, 4 sacks).

The Ravens always seem to fare much better in the NFL's official defense rankings than they do in fantasy scoring; Baltimore's D is so impenetrable, it's been able to keep opponents from gaining yards or scoring – the factors that contribute to the NFL's ranking – without racking up huge numbers of fantasy-friendly sacks or turnovers. Last year's team was a notable exception – the Ravens were the NFL's third-ranked defense and, thanks in part to a healthy jump in their sack totals – the fourth-best DST in fantasy scoring. Unfortunately, Baltimore will probably take a step backward on both lists this season, due to the loss of Terrell Suggs.

4. CHICAGO BEARS
Chicago's D was one of the league's best last year; expect more of the same in 2012. First-round draft pick Shea McClellin is projected to start at LDE, providing a more effective bookend to Julius
Peppers. The Bears also added depth via free agency. The Bears special teams still rely heavily on Devin Hester, who is as good as anyone in the league. Hester racked up three special teams TDs each of the last two seasons and shows no sign of slowing.

5. GREEN BAY PACKERS
The Packers racked up healthy fantasy totals and decidedly unhealthy "yards allowed" figures. Green Bay's offense was a big factor in that disparity. Playing with a big lead most of the time, and having opposing teams go pass-happy in an attempt to keep up, allowed the Packers defense to gamble quite a bit, resulting in a lot of big plays (a league-best 31 interceptions, five defensive touchdowns). Another point in Green Bay's favor: electric PR/KR Randall
Cobb, who should be good for a special teams touchdown or two.

7. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Eagles struggled to get out of the gate last season, as they worked to integrate just about every marquee free agent of the post-lockout class and a new defensive coordinator, despite the

8. HOUSTON TEXANS

9. NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants are built around an enormously-talented defensive line, a deep rotation featuring Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi
Umenyiora that generates quarterback pressure and stops the run without sending extra rushers. The fact that the front four doesn't need help from the linebackers or secondary makes the other two groups look – and play – better. With Umenyoira and Tuck battling a variety of injuries, New York's defensive line wasn't nearly as imposing. But by the end of the year, most of the Giants' key players were healthy. Suddenly, the defense began playing according to plan, all the way to the Super Bowl. Led by the dominant Pierre-Paul, the
Giants should pick up where they left, as long as they stay healthy.

10. NEW YORK JETS
Jets coach Rex Ryan is known for his defense, but the numbers say otherwise. While New York finished fifth overall in passing yards and overall yards allowed, the Jets were vulnerable against the run (13th in the league in rush yards allowed) and 20th overall in points allowed. Having DE Aaron Maybin for a full season should help the pass rush; Maybin had a team-high six sacks last season in just 13 games after being picked up off waivers. And the Jets added another pass rusher in the draft, using a first-round pick on North
Carolina DE Quinton Coples. The Jets' only free-agent acquisition of note is safety LaRon Landry, a big hitter who should help against the run.
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TEAM DEFENSE SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

11. DETROIT LIONS

16. CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Lions were the top Team D in the league last season, thanks in large part to a pocket-collapsing defensive line led by all-world defensive tackle Ndamokong Suh. That line could be even better in
2012. The Lions might not be able to replicate all the big plays they generated last season, though – they had an NFL-high seven defensive touchdowns. But an uptick in their sack totals – a reasonable expectation, given their depth on the defensive line – and a special teams score or two – they had none last season – should help the
Lions keep pace.

After finishing 29th in fantasy scoring in 2011 – and with a paltry 27 sacks, the Bengals jumped into the fantasy top 10 last season and got to the quarterback 45 times. No one player was responsible for the improvement; the Bengals' pass rush was a real team effort.
The Bengals haven't made any big moves to replace the losses in their front seven. That will make replicating last season's sack total a challenge. But their secondary – already a team strength – should be even stronger thanks to the addition of first-round draft pick Dre
Kirkpatrick and free-agents Terence Newman (Cowboys) and Jason
Allen (Texans). That trio will give the Bengals excellent depth behind starters Leon Hall and Nate Clements.

12. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
The last several seasons the Patriots have won with Tom Brady and a high-octane offense and a defense that finished in the middle – or bottom – of the pack by most metrics. Last season, the Pats were particularly vulnerable against the pass, finishing 31st in the league in pass yards and overall yards allowed, 15th in points allowed and
17th in rushing yards allowed. Of course, Brady's offense had something to do with that; with the Patriots playing with big leads most of the time, other teams were forced to pass more. A number of personnel changes, however, should add up to a defense that is younger, quicker and significantly more athletic than last year's model. And the Pats should still see plenty of interceptions as offenses take to the air to keep up with Brady and company.

17. ATLANTA FALCONS

13. DENVER BRONCOS

18. ARIZONA CARDINALS

The Broncos were surprisingly effective on defense last season.
When Tim Tebow took over at quarterback, Denver started playing an extreme run-heavy offense that allowed it to dominate time of possession – which gave its defensive stats a lift across the board.
As a team, the Broncos will have a very different look this season.
Peyton Manning takes over for Tebow, which means the offense will air things out quite a bit more. And that means the defense probably won't have the same sort of time-of-possession edge it enjoyed last season. The Broncos still will have a fearsome pass rush, keyed by Von Miller (11.5 sacks) and Elvis Dumervil (9.5 sacks).

The Cardinals were mediocre on defense last season, finishing in the bottom half of the league in just about every meaningful defensive metric, including fantasy scoring. Arizona got to the quarterback reasonably well, tallying 42 sacks – eight from DE Calais
Campbell and another seven from rookie OLB Sam Acho. But it was among the league's worst teams in forcing turnovers, generating just 10 interceptions and 12 forced fumbles. One thing they do well, though, is return kicks. Rookie CB Patrick Peterson was the
NFL's best return man in 2011, scoring on four punt returns.

14. BUFFALO BILLS

Atlanta was mediocre for the most part last year, finishing 18th in points allowed, 12th in yards allowed and 20th in passing yards allowed. And the Falcons are heavily reliant on veterans like John
Abraham (age 34), Dunta Robinson (30), Jonathan Babineaux (30) and, starting this year, Asante Samuel (31). At some point, all teams need an infusion of youth on both sides of the ball or production can drop off in a hurry. Another worrisome factor – at least as far as fantasy production is concerned – is the fact that the Falcons don't get to the quarterback often. The Falcons racked up 33 sacks last season – 9.5 coming from Abraham – and 31 the year before.

19. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The Bills made the biggest splash of the free-agent season, shocking the NFL world by signing elite pass rusher Mario Williams. It's not hard to see why a pass-rushing DE became a big offseason priority. Williams had five sacks last season in just five games, before a pectoral injury sent him to injured reserve. The Bills had just 29 as a team over the entire season. But the 29th-ranked defense in the league still has a long way to go. Ugly numbers aside, Buffalo was a surprisingly-effective fantasy defense last season, thanks largely to lucky breaks – they scored six defensive touchdowns and a seventh on special teams. Look for Buffalo to finish in the middle of the pack at best this year as it likely won’t repeat that TD production.

Generating a pass rush should be job one for the Chiefs this year.
While the Chiefs were just slightly below average as a fantasy defense last season, their pass rush was especially poor. KC managed just 29 sacks; 12 of those came from Tamba Hali. By most other metrics, the Chiefs defense fared pretty well, finishing the season 12th in points allowed, 11th in yards allowed and an impressive sixth overall against the pass. The latter statistic is particularly impressive, given that KC lost its outstanding young safety Eric
Berry for the season in September. Any improvement this season will be driven by Berry's return to the lineup and whatever impact first-round pick Dontari Poe has as a rookie. If he plays to the
Chiefs' expectations, KC's defense could be much improved.

15. DALLAS COWBOYS

20. MIAMI DOLPHINS

Any team with a pass-rusher like DeMarcus Ware has to be pretty good on defense, right? Well, no, not really. Ware had another excellent season in 2011, racking up 19.5 sacks. But the Cowboys got very little production elsewhere on defense, finishing middle of the pack according to most defensive metrics. That vulnerability to the pass is the driver behind a major renovation of the secondary this season. Help is on the way elsewhere as well. Dez Bryant is a potentially-devastating return man, but one wonders if the Cowboys will continue to use him in the return game and risk losing his services for their offense.

The 2011 Dolphins are a great example of the importance of TDs in fantasy scoring. Miami had 41 sacks – more than the Patriots or
Jets. And the Dolphins picked off 16 passes – more than the Eagles or Ravens. But the Dolphins managed just one touchdown on defense or special teams and, as a result, produced far fewer fantasy points than any of those squads. Defensive touchdowns are nearly impossible to predict, but it seems fair to say the changes made to Miami's defense in the offseason don't seem to include many big-play threats. And with the team in the midst of yet another rebuilding effort, it seems unlikely it'll make any major strides.

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TEAM DEFENSE SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

21. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

26. OAKLAND RAIDERS

The 8-8 San Diego Chargers were one of the league's bigger disappointments last season, and a porous run defense was a big reason why. The Bolts allowed more than 120 rushing yards per game – finishing 20th in the league in that category and 22nd overall in points allowed. That defense has been the focus of a major offseason renovation. The Chargers special teams could get a jolt thanks to the addition of two real burners – ex-Bronco Eddie Royal and exBill Roscoe Parrish are expected to take over the return duties.

Looking at their defensive numbers from last season, one wonders how the Raiders managed to win eight games. Oakland finished
30th in overall defense, 29th in points allowed and 26th in both rushing and passing yards allowed. After that performance, the team is breaking in an all-new coaching staff yet again. But
Oakland's defensive personnel won't change all that much from last year's group, so temper your expectations accordingly.

22. TENNESSEE TITANS
The Titans D held opponents to less than 20 points per game last season. Most of the underlying numbers, though, weren't quite as impressive. Tennessee was particularly vulnerable against the run, giving up 128.3 yards per game to opposition ball carriers. And its pass rush was nearly the league's worst, tallying just 28 sacks. The
Titans will address that weakness this season with the additions of second-round draft pick Zach Brown, a sideline-to-sideline linebacker out of North Carolina, third-rounder Mike Martin, a run-stuffing DT from Michigan and free-agent pickup Kamerion Wimbley, a pass-rushing DE. Another factor not to be discounted: playing in the AFC South, the Titans will face the Jags and Colts twice each, and those teams should struggle offensively.

23. CLEVELAND BROWNS
The Browns were excellent against the pass last season. Or maybe they were so bad at stopping the run teams didn't bother to throw the ball. The run defense was particularly poor, as the Browns ceded nearly 150 yards per game on the ground. Things should improve in Year 2, as the team gets better acclimated to the new system and team president Mike Holmgren has the chance to bring in players better-suited to Dick Jauron's defense. And KR/PR
Joshua Cribbs is one of the league's most dangerous open-field runners. It seems fair to expect those two to come up with a DST touchdown or two between them this season.

24. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
The 2011 Vikings were pretty awful. But their defense wasn't half bad. Jared Allen (22 sacks) continues to be a monster, accounting for nearly half the Vikings' league-high 50 sacks. That helped the
Vikings finish middle of the pack in DST scoring (17th overall) despite the fact that they were among the league's worst in interceptions – eight – and failed to score a single defensive touchdown.
If they're to improve this season, they'll have to get good production from their secondary, including rookie safety tandem of firstround pick Harrison Smith and fifth-rounder Robert Blanton. But in a division that features Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler and Calvin
Johnson, asking a pair of rookies to fix the secondary is a lot.

25. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
If you're worried that all the controversy makes the Saints defense an iffy proposition in fantasy drafts this year, don't be. The Saints defense probably wasn't worth drafting before "bounty-gate" hit the fan. New Orleans was particularly bad against the pass, finishing
30th in the NFL in yards allowed through the air. Its run defense fared better, ranking 12th, but as with the Pats and Packers, one has to take the Saints' offense into account. With Drew Brees and company running up the score, opponents had to abandon the run in many games. But forcing opponents to go pass-happy didn't help New Orleans rack up interceptions. Saint defenders picked off just nine passesr; that's just one better than the league low.

27. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
The Redskin defense has come a long way since Mike Shanahan took over the team. But it still has a mountain to climb. Two years ago, Washington managed just 29 sacks and ranked, appropriately enough, 29th in the league in DST scoring. Last year, it boosted that total to 41, and finished 19th overall in fantasy points and 21st in the official NFL defensive rankings. Completing the transition from a
4-3 base to Jim Haslett's preferred 3-4, and Brian Orakpo's improvement as a stand-up rushing OLB were the biggest factors in
Washington's improvement. Look for continued improvement this season, but this team is still a long way from reaching the top tier of fantasy defenses.

28. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
In 2010, the Bucs went 10-6, barely missed the playoffs, and
Raheem Morris was one of the hottest young coaches in the league. In 2011, that record slipped to 4-12, and Morris barely held on to his job through New Year's Day. New head coach Greg
Schiano and defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan will take over the
NFL's worst defense. Sheridan is likely to employ many of the same schemes used by the Giants; he was a member of Tom Coughlin's
2008 Super Bowl-winning staff. But Tampa's personnel has a long way to go before it reminds anyone of the G-men.

29. CAROLINA PANTHERS
The Panthers are in the midst of an extended rebuilding program, and last season, that really showed. Carolina was 27th in the league in points allowed, 28th in yards, 24th in pass yards and 25th in rush yards. Its fantasy numbers were equally grim – just 31 sacks (nine coming from handsomely-compensated DE Charles Johnson), a relatively healthy 14 interceptions, no defensive scores and one touchdown on special teams. Cam Newton must truly be special to win six games backed by a defense that bad.

30. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
The Jags D performed far better than one might expect from a 5-11 team, finishing in the NFL's top-10 in yards, passing yards and rushing yards allowed and 11th overall in points allowed. They were surprisingly good in fantasy scoring as well, finishing 12th in the
DST rankings. They didn't get to the quarterback as often as we'd like (31 sacks) but were highly opportunistic (17 interceptions and
19 forced fumbles, leading to three defensive touchdowns). The lineup will be more or less intact as well. The only real additions of note are second-round pick Andre Branch, who may crack the starting lineup at DE, and ex-Giant CB Aaron Ross, who will add depth in the secondary.

31. ST. LOUIS RAMS
The Rams intended to unveil a new, aggressive, blitz-happy system this season, run by new coach Jeff Fisher and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. One problem – Williams has been suspended indefinitely by the league for his role in the New Orleans bounty35

TEAM DEFENSE SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

gate. That could mean the Rams won't be quite as aggressive with the blitz this season as Williams' teams have been in the past. St.
Louis was particularly dismal defending the run last season, finishing 31st in the league in rushing yards allowed.

32. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are still wearing the horseshoe helmets, but they're about the only names on the Indianapolis defense you'd recognize. And Freeney won't even be lining up in his usual position this season; new defensive coordinator Chuck
Pagano plans to move him to outside linebacker, with ex-Raven
Cory Redding taking over at DE. Two other Ravens – linebacker
Brandon McKinney and strong safety Tom Zbikowski – also joined the Colts as free agents. But they won't be enough to have a major impact. This team is rebuilding, and is short on talent on both sides of the ball.

36

LINEBACKER & D-LINE SEASON PROFILES
Player Profiles are based on season outlooks and re-ranked as events warrant during training camp.

= Rising

= Falling

1. PATRICK WILLIS, 49ERS, LB

7. RAY LEWIS, RAVENS, LB

With offensive coordinators fretting over the Justin and Aldon
Smiths’ pursuit of quarterbacks and Navorro Bowman’s 143-tackle debut as a starter, Willis should see fewer blockers and more freedom to pursue ballcarriers, making him a good bet to regain the production he showed during his first three years in the NFL, a span that saw him average 156 tackles (119 solo) per season.

Lewis doesn’t seem to age. His actual effectiveness took a step back in 2011 at 36, but that was perhaps in large part due to the turf toe injury that cost him four games. Lewis’ stats were about as good as usual on a per-game basis. Lewis could see more blitz attempts than usual in 2012, as Terrell Suggs (Achilles) isn’t a good bet to play this year, and the Ravens will need to cook up other means of pressuring quarterbacks.

2. NAVORRO BOWMAN, 49ERS, LB

8. DERRICK JOHNSON, CHIEFS, LB

Bowman couldn’t have been much better in his first season as a starter in 2011, as his 143 tackles ranked seventh in the league, and his 111 solo stops ranked second. Bowman has the athleticism of a defensive back and figures to be more disruptive in coverage and as a pass rusher this season. It’s less likely that Bowman will improve his tackle total, however, as 143 is a high bar, particularly given that he’s competing with Patrick Willis for tackles in a defense that doesn’t spend much time on the field.

Johnson is as dangerous in coverage as any linebacker. With a drastic improvement in tackles the last two years, Johnson's ascent to IDP dominance is no fluke. The only reason to expect maybe a slight decline in Johnson’s numbers in 2012 is the arrival of Peyton
Manning – the Chiefs will see far fewer rushing attempts against the
Broncos twice a year now that John Fox won’t need to hide the ball from Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow.

3. DESMOND BISHOP, PACKERS, LB

9. SEAN LEE, COWBOYS, LB

Bishop has two important things going for him: Aaron Rodgers’ rapid touchdown frequency returns the Green Bay defense to the field quickly, and the Packers defense (with a league-high 411.6 yards allowed per game) struggles to get off the field. To top it off,
Bishop is a good player with a three-down skill set. Bishop is highfloor, high-upside.

If durability weren’t an issue for Lee, he would rank significantly higher. Lee seems to be remarkably brittle. If Lee should miraculously stay healthy a full season, his IDP production would more than likely be top-tier. He totaled 104 stops (71 solo) in 15 games last year despite playing with a dislocated wrist for eight games.

4. D'QWELL JACKSON, BROWNS, LB
If Jackson’s durability could be assured, he would be worth ranking second behind Patrick Willis. Only London Fletcher finished with more tackles than Jackson in 2012, as the Maryland product ended the year with 158 stops, including an impressive 116 solo tackles. Jackson is easily the biggest durability risk among the top tier of linebacker IDPs. Still, IDPs are generally a dime a dozen after the top tier, giving one an incentive to swing for the fences with Jackson. If he stays healthy, though, he can win you games. Over his last 38 games, Jackson’s production projects to a
16-game total of 156 tackles (108 solo), two sacks and two interceptions.

5. SEAN WEATHERSPOON, FALCONS, LB
Weatherspoon started to fulfill his potential as a first-round pick for
Atlanta last year, finishing with 115 tackles, which tied for 13th in the league. He will more than likely breeze past those numbers in 2012, though, because former teammate Curtis Lofton left the Falcons in free agency, leaving a 147-tackle void in the Atlanta defense.
Although he’s not as established as many top IDPs, Weatherspoon’ ceiling is probably second only to that of Patrick Willis.

6. JAMES ANDERSON, PANTHERS, LB
Anderson has been an exceptional IDP the last two years, totaling
275 tackles (199 solo), five sacks and three interceptions since becoming a full-time starter in 2010. The problem is it’s hard to see him sustaining that tackle pace since he’ll compete with both ninth overall pick Luke Kuechly and Jon Beason (who is returning from a season-ending Achilles’ tear) for tackles. Still, Anderson should remain one of the better linebacker IDPs due to his effectiveness and the Swiss cheese defensive line in front of him – the frequency with which opposing ballcarriers get to the second level against the
Panthers defense means there’s room for all three to produce.

10. CHAD GREENWAY, VIKINGS, LB
Greenway has always been a good NFL linebacker, but his IDP production has skyrocketed the last two years. His production surge likely is due in part to the recent struggles of the Minnesota offense, which gave the Vikings defense more snaps on the field. Fortunately for Greenway’s
IDP prospects, the Minnesota offense should be far from stellar in 2012, as Christian Ponder remains unproven and injury prone, and Adrian
Peterson’s early-season availability (and all-season effectiveness) is up in the air due to a Christmas Eve ACL and MCL tear.

11. LUKE KUECHLY, PANTHERS, LB
It’s extremely rare for a rookie to warrant a lofty ranking as an IDP, but Kuechly is more than a slight exception to the rule. Everything about his game is blue chip – he’s extremely instinctive, possesses rare athleticism (4.58-second 40-yard dash at 242 pounds) and, more than anything else, is exceptionally productive. As a top prospect with a three-down skill set in an annually bad defense,
Kuechly should see a big snap volume as a rookie, and it’s likely he’ll capitalize in a big way.

12. JAMES LAURINAITIS, RAMS, LB
Forced fumbles aside, Laurinaitis might be behind only Patrick Willis and
Desmond Bishop when it comes to well-rounded IDP production, as he reliably posts above-average numbers in the most conventionally important stat categories – solo stops, sacks and interceptions. Dangerous as he is, offenses will have no choice but to leave Laurinaitis unaccounted for much of the time because of the talent around him.

13. LONDON FLETCHER, REDSKINS, LB
Fletcher is heading into his 15th season, at 37, and it seems as if he’s not even close to slowing down. Even if his game does start to deteriorate in 2012, Fletcher’s IDP production shouldn’t suffer much
37

LINEBACKER & D-LINE SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

for it – he’s a three-down player, and the Washington defense should see a lot of snaps in 2012, in no small part because the
Redskins offense figures to be a quick-strike, hit-or-miss operation rather than a ball-control attack.

14. PAT ANGERER, COLTS, LB
Give Angerer a boost in leagues that values assist and solo tackles equally, but Angerer’s 148 tackles last year aren't that impressive given that only 78 were solo. Still, 80 solo stops should be
Angerer’s floor in 2012, as he should get plenty of tackle opportunities in what could be a rough transition to the 3-4 for Indianapolis.

15. JON BEASON, PANTHERS, LB
If health is on his side, Beason could be one of the best IDP bargains of 2012, even with James Anderson and Luke Kuechly piling up big tackle totals. The problem is it’s not clear what to expect from Beason as he recovers from a torn Achilles’ tendon, which was exhibiting persistent tendinitis even before the tear. His past production probably makes Beason worth a gamble in most cases.

16. DAVID HAWTHORNE, SAINTS, LB
Hawthorne is a good player who should maintain relevance as an
IDP no matter the specifics of his role this year. He totaled 338 tackles the last three years for Seattle, and he consistently made big plays in coverage over the same span, intercepting seven passes and returning one for a touchdown. That interception production could be useful in the pass-happy NFC South.

17. JEROD MAYO, PATRIOTS, LB

20. JASON PIERRE-PAUL, GIANTS, D-LINE
Pierre-Paul could probably regress slightly and still be the best defensive lineman IDP. In fact, he is arguably the top IDP at any position after finishing his sophomore season with an unreal total of 86 tackles
(65 solo), including 16.5 sacks and one safety, as well as seven passes defended and two forced fumbles. There might be some concern
Pierre-Paul’s numbers drop as a result of offensive lines devoting more blocking resources toward him, but it’s difficult to see how that would be likely considering all of the defenisve talent.

21. COLIN MCCARTHY, TEN, LB
McCarthy is a bit of an injury risk, but the excellent production he showed as a rookie and the departure of Barrett Ruud makes him one of the better high-upside IDP prospects heading into 2012. He will more than likely start at middle linebacker for the Titans, a role in which he totaled 63 tackles (50 solo), one interception and two forced fumbles over the final eight weeks in 2011.

22. JARED ALLEN, VIKINGS, D-LINE
Allen is an exceptional talent whose surrounding conditions rarely amount to anything significant – Allen dominates, and he does it no matter who is playing next to him. Like all NFC North defensive linemen, Allen benefits from the pass-happy nature of the Packers and
Lions offenses – neither of which counters Allen's presence with an especially skilled group of offensive tackles. The bottom line with
Allen, though, is that he is a blue chip IDP and a justifiable first selection among defensive linemen.

23. DARYL WASHINGTON, CARDINALS, LB

After posting a mammoth league-leading tackle total in 2010, Mayo predictably regressed to the mean in 2011, and not just due to injury. He should be much more affordable this year, and he's a good bet to be a bargain given that he produced at a rate of 144 tackles per 16 games in the three seasons prior to last. The only real drawback with Mayo is that his durability is questionable.

Washington, who is emerging as one of the league’s best linebackers, has the talent to out-produce his ranking in most leagues. Washington is a rangy threat in coverage and a disruptive blitzer, making him especially valuable in leagues that reward heavily for sacks and interceptions. But as good as his numbers were last year, the Cardinals defense played more snaps than any other team in 2011, so Washington’s situation couldn’t have been much more favorable.

18. KARLOS DANSBY, DOLPHINS, LB

24. MICHAEL BOLEY, GIANTS, LB

Dansby was hobbled by injuries in 2010 (turf toe) and 2011 (groin), but he still managed to post noteworthy tackle numbers, and he could be better than that with a little durability luck. It’s not clear what sort of effect Miami’s impending switch to a primarily 4-3 alignment might have on Dansby after playing in a 3-4 the last two years, but Dansby’s skills translate well to both formations, so he remains a good bet to post a tackle total in the low 100s this year.

Boley has yet to break out as an IDP, but his strong on-field productivity and a potential move to middle linebacker gives hope for a career year in 2012. Although he has only surpassed 100 tackles once in seven years, Boley would have more than likely breezed past triple digits in two of the last three seasons were it not for injuries. The acquisition of Keith Rivers at outside linebacker should push Boley inside, where tackles will be more readily available.

19. CURTIS LOFTON, SAINTS, LB

25. JUSTIN TUCK, GIANTS, D-LINE

Lofton’s stock is down a bit from previous years because it’s not immediately clear what sort of production will be available to him in the New Orleans defense. But Lofton is generally a good bet to post at least 120 tackles after averaging 133 per season his last three years with Atlanta, including 147 in 2011. Considering he piled up those numbers despite competing with Sean Weatherspoon for tackles, the presence of the formidable David Hawthorne in New
Orleans shouldn’t be much of a drain on Lofton’s numbers.

Tuck played only 12 games last year and played hurt in many others. Now healhty, Tuck should bounce back in 2012. Considering how bad his numbers were a year ago, Tuck should present good bargain value in all IDP leagues this year. His value looks especially good given the emergence of fellow Giants end Jason Pierre-Paul.
As effective as he is, opposing offensive lines likely won't worry much about Tuck as long as Pierre-Paul is on the field, and Tuck should avoid double teams this season as a result.

38

DEFENSIVE BACK SEASON PROFILES
Player Profiles are based on season outlooks and re-ranked as events warrant during training camp.

= Rising

= Falling

1. GEORGE WILSON, BILLS

8. DEVIN MCCOURTY, PATRIOTS

No doubt the secret is out, even in the most casual of IDP leagues.
Wilson totaled 106 tackles (78 solo), four interceptions and two forced fumbles in 2011 despite missing three games due to a neck stinger. That sort of production can be a game-changer for fantasy owners. If you’re going to be the first owner in your league to draft an IDP, the pick should probably be either Wilson or defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul.

McCourty has not been particularly good in coverage lately, but he plays for a defense that is a great bet to see among the most snaps in the league. The result is a huge target volume, and one in which
McCourty figures to give up a big chunk of catches, which then turns into easy tackle opportunities. His per-game stats through his first 30 games project to 90 tackles (72 solo) and five interceptions over a full season.

2. ERIC WEDDLE, CHARGERS

9. T.J. WARD, BROWNS

Weddle’s tackle numbers have declined significantly the last two years. But it’s important to have some perspective on his declining tackle numbers – an average of 92 per year is still very good for a defensive back, even if it isn’t close to the 120-tackle pace he had in 2008 and 2009. The bottom line with Weddle is he’s as time-tested as any of the top IDP defensive backs and is a good player in a system that is annually one of the most stat-friendly for DBs.

Ward was one of the most disappointing IDPs last year, though his decline was mostly due a season-derailing foot injury rather than poor play. He had injury issues in college and tends to play more recklessly than a player with his build probably should – he plays like a strong safety but looks more like a cornerback at 5-10, 200, so he opens himself up to a fair amount of punishment.

3. ERIC BERRY, CHIEFS
An ACL tear is always a serious matter, but don’t assume Berry won’t be back in a big way in 2012. Berry is an elite talent, and he’s poised to push for triple-digit tackles after finishing his 2010 rookie season with 92 stops (77 solo) and four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. Although he has the tackling ability of a strong safety, Berry possesses excellent athleticism and center-field skills, so he’ll contribute in every way for a defensive back IDP.

4. CHARLES WOODSON, PACKERS
Woodson’s career might be at a crossroads entering 2012, as it’s not clear whether he’ll primarily play cornerback or safety for the
Packers. Either way, he’s a great bet to remain among the top IDPs.
A move to safety might actually be the ideal development for
Woodson’s fantasy value, but even if he’s playing cornerback exclusively, there is little doubt Woodson will remain an elite on-paper IDP.

10. TYVON BRANCH, RAIDERS
Branch seems to have little or no ability as a playmaker, particularly in coverage, but he is second only to George Wilson in being the safest bet to hit triple-digit tackles. But as consistently elite as his tackle numbers are, he hasn’t done anything else. The reasonable expectation is for Branch to provide tackles and little else.

11. ANTOINE BETHEA, COLTS
Bethea is one of the most reliable defensive back IDPs year after year thanks to his exceptionally consistent tackle production. The total will likely drop in 2012 since the Colts should be both significantly better on offense and slightly better on defense – resulting in fewer snaps for Bethea. He should remain consistent in leagues that primarily emphasize tackle production, even if his ceiling is on the modest side.

12. ROMAN HARPER, SAINTS

Tillman has been a superb playmaker durng his nine-year career, but he might have had his best showing yet in 2011. He is arguably as great a turnover threat as any cornerback in the league.
Durability is the only concern with Tillman, but he remains a talented and effective player in a scheme that suits his skills perfectly.

Harper should reprise his role a one of the league’s best in-the-box
IDP defensive backs – nearly a non-factor in coverage but annually hovering in the 100-tackle range. In recent years, though, Harper has emerged as a dominant blitzer, which provides a nice boost to his fantasy value. Between his above average sack and forced fumble production, Harper’s lack of activity in coverage is mostly offset in the vast majority of IDP scoring systems.

6. JASON MCCOURTY, TITANS

13. CHARLES GODFREY, PANTHERS

McCourty has very good odds of reaching 100 tackles 2012, something he did in 2011 despite missing one game. Generally considered a better player than Alterraun Verner, it's possible McCourty sees fewer pass attempts from opposing quarterbacks; if so, expect lower tackle totals than Verner.

Although he missed two games and played hurt in several others due to a shoulder injury, Godfrey managed to post a respectable totals. He will more than likely keep up that sort of production because the NFC South is exceptionally pass heavy, and the
Carolina defense should continue to struggle to get off the field.

7. TERRELL THOMAS, GIANTS

14. JAIRUS BYRD, BILLS

Even though he’s returning from an August ACL tear, there is reason to think Thomas will be one of the top IDP defensive backs in 2012.
His standout skills are complemented by a context ideal for IDP production – he plays in a pass-first division and has what might be the league’s best pass rush forcing quarterbacks to make bad decisions. He appears healthy heading into training camp, but track his status through August just in case.

He’s no George Wilson, but Byrd is one of the best IDP targets among defensive backs. A former college cornerback who initially made his mark in the NFL with low-tackle, high-interception totals,
Byrd has rounded out his game in the last two years and become a steady source of tackle production, remaining a threat in coverage all the while. His upside is pretty high given that the Bills' defensive line is so good and could be forcing a lot of errant passes

5. CHARLES TILLMAN, BEARS

39

DEFENSIVE BACK SEASON PROFILES (cont...)

15. KERRY RHODES, CARDINALS
A lingering foot injury pretty much blanked Rhodes' 2011 season, but his reliably productive play in years prior, both in tackles and in coverage, gives reason to believe he will present starting IDP potential again in 2012. He played all 16 games in his seven other
NFL seasons, so durability has historically been on his side.

16. EARL THOMAS, SEAHAWKS
Thomas remains one of the league's most talented safeties and should find a happy medium between last year's tackle-heavy stats and the turnover potential he showed as a rookie when he intercepted five passes. Thomas' floor is high since he hasn't missed a game in his two NFL seasons.

17. REGGIE NELSON, BENGALS
Nelson finally came to life for Cincinnati in 2011. He still isn't much of a tackler, but he posted just enough to be a non-liability in that department and added four interceptions. He also threw in two sacks and two forced fumbles. With a deep and effective front seven ahead of him, Nelson should continue to see a fair number of rushed, off-target passes as Cincinnati's center-field safety.

18. PATRICK CHUNG, PATRIOTS
Chung is a former Oregon safety and second-round pick who can't seem to stay healthy but posts big IDP numbers when he does manage to stay on the field. His stats from the last two years would project to 115 tackles (79 solo) and three interceptions over 16 games. Since IDP production is so volatile and generally replaceable, gambling on Chung's upside is justifiable.

19. MORGAN BURNETT, PACKERS
Although the Green Bay defense had a lot of trouble stopping the pass last year, Burnett did quite well from an IDP perspective.
Burnett was a big-time playmaker in coverage at Georgia Tech, so it wouldn't surprise if he broke out in the interception category this year, particularly with upgrades to the Green Bay pass rush, which could produce more off-target passes.

20. JOE HADEN, BROWNS
Haden's IDP numbers fell off a cliff last year, but he should be expected to bounce back in a big way. Haden is a legitimately good

corner quarterbacks would prefer to avoid, but his ball skills are too good to keep him from making an impact in games.

21. DAWAN LANDRY, JAGUARS
Landry was predictably a high-floor, moderate-ceiling IDP in his first year with the Jaguars. With extremely reliable year-to-year production and good durability, Landry will once again be a rock-solid midtier IDP option, further solidified by what will likely be a shaky, turnover-prone Jacksonville offense.

22. ANTREL ROLLE, GIANTS
Rolle still has not shown any signs of turning into the playmaker in coverage that he was in college, but he has firmly established himself as a 90-tackle threat now that he has settled in at safety for the
Giants. His 16-game rate of 87 tackles (75 solo) going back to 2008 is solid, and it does a good job of masking his inactivity as a playmaker (just eight interceptions and 21 passes defended over the same span.)

23. DASHON GOLDSON, 49ERS
Despite playing in a highly effective defense on a team whose offense had the fifth-highest time of possession last year, Goldson made the most of his modest snap count. As such, it's difficult to doubt Goldson's ability produce as an IDP heading into 2012. He shouldn't change much as a player, and the circumstances around him realistically can only get better.

24. QUINTIN MIKELL, RAMS
A pure strong safety, Mikell finished last season with 91 tackles (75 solo), one sack, two interceptions and five forced fumbles. It’s reasonable to expect a slight decline in his tackles in 2012 because the St. Louis offense should do a better job of moving the chains while the Rams defense should be more adept at forcing three-andouts, leaving Mikell with fewer snaps and tackle opportunities.

25. CORTLAND FINNEGAN, RAMS
Finnegan has a long history as one of the league’s top IDP defensive backs, but his value is lower, or at least questionable, after he left Tennessee for St. Louis in free agency. Still, he’ll probably be isolated on the opposition’s top receiver at times, and will have opportunities to makes plays as a result

40

S L E E P E R S & U N D E R V A L U E D P L AY E R S
QUARTERBACK
JAY CUTLER, BEARS
For those obsessed with YPA spikes, Cutler's results last season don't point to a big step forward in 2012. Fortunately, the departure of offensive coordinator Mike Martz and the reunion with a true No.
1 wideout Brandon Marshall (and the addition of rookie Alshon
Jeffrey) should benefit Cutler significantly. Further, the NFC North boasts a trio of soft secondaries capable of generating a half dozen passer-friendly shootout scenarios. If Cutler is ever going to make the leap into the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks, it's going to be now.

KEVIN KOLB, CARDINALS
That the Cardinals picked up Kolb's $7 million roster bonus was telling - that's not the kind of money you pay for a prospective backup. Kolb was more efficient than one might think when he was on the field, posting a respectable 7.7 YPA. While that number doesn't jump off the page, it was better than that of more highly regarded quarterbacks such as Matthew Stafford and Matt Ryan.
Kolb now has a legit No. 2 receiving option in first-round pick
Michael Floyd, whose presence will allow a healthy competition for playing time between Andre Roberts and Early Doucet for the No. 3 job. If Kolb can get past his concussion woes, he could end up as more than a backup on your fantasy roster.

MIKE VICK, EAGLES
Expect the public to overreact to Vick's 2011 struggles. The upside is still there - as high as that of any fantasy player – yet Vick will undoubtedly be drafted behind several QBs with lower ceilings.
Another thing to keep in mind when considering Vick – there's no way LeSean McCoy will rush for 17 TDs again this year, and there's no way Vick will have just one. As the TDs normalize between
McCoy and Vick, there are huge potential profits for Vick in 2012.

TIM TEBOW, JETS
Forget about the hype and check your league rules. If Tebow gets used as a RB, could he qualify there in your league? If so, that's a nice potential coup. Even if Tebow doesn't qualify as a RB, he has tremendous upside if he winds up with the starting job at QB in New
York. To illustrate, even if he starts the year as the backup, I'd much rather own Tebow than Mark Sanchez. In a way, this is the same situation Tebow was in at this time last year - the backup, but with an unproven guy as the starter (last year it was Kyle Orton), and lots of media hoopla, so there's a better than average chance Tebow gets the gig at some point. Stash him; the potential profit is huge.

CARSON PALMER, RAIDERS
Palmer threw 16 interceptions in just 10 games last year, but that was accompanied by 8.4 YPA, which tied for the third highest in the
NFL (minimum 300 attempts), and don't forget he was sitting on his couch until a trade brought him to Oakland in Week 7. There's some concern with Hue Jackson getting fired and a change in offensive philosophy, but with Denarius Moore, Darrius HeywardBey and Jacoby Ford, Palmer has plenty of weapons at his disposal in an AFC West division that will likely feature a lot of shootouts.
Don't be surprised when Palmer finishes as a top-10 fantasy QB.

MATT FLYNN, SEAHAWKS
In his last two starts, Flynn threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns (one pick) against the Patriots in 2010 and 480 yards, six touchdowns (one pick) against the Lions (who were fighting or playoff seeding) in Week 17 last year. The Seahawks gave him $10 million in guaranteed money, so he'd have to fall on his face not to beat out Tarvaris Jackson (and Russell Wilson). With Sidney Rice coming back from shoulder surgeries, Kellen Winslow now in the fold and Doug Baldwin breaking out a as an effective target in the slot, Flynn even has a few weapons, though nothing like the stockpile with which he worked in Green Bay.

JAKE LOCKER, TITANS
Locker is no sure thing to beat out Matt Hasselbeck for the Titans' starting role, and last year's 51.5 completion percentage is a red flag, but he also produced an 8.2 YPA mark during his rookie campaign, with a 5:0 TD:TO ratio and a 99.4 QB rating. He's also highly capable of running, which is an obvious boon for his fantasy potential. With Kenny Britt, Jared Cook, first-round pick Kendall Wright and a rejuvenated Chris Johnson at his disposal, it wouldn't be a shock if Tennessee contended in the AFC South. Locker has a lot of upside should he win the job.

RUNNING BACK
FRED JACKSON, BILLS
Jackson was a threat to be a top-five fantasy back when he went down in Week 10, with 934 yards rushing, six scores, 39 catches and 442 receiving yards. Prorate those 9.5 games over a full season, and you'd get 1,573 rushing yards, 10 TDs, 66 catches and
744 receiving yards. In fact, the yards-from-scrimmage total of
2,317 would have clocked in at eighth all-time. C.J. Spiller is still around, of course, and after his showing down the stretch, he'll be more involved. But the Bills should be a run-heavy team, having solidified their defensive front and secondary, while doing little to upgrade their passing game this offseason.

RYAN WILLIAMS, CARDINALS
Chris Wells played pretty well last year, posting 1,047 yards rushing and 10 TDs over 14 games, while Williams missed last year with a preseason ACL tear. But forget about last season for a moment and think about where these two guys were at this point last year.
Williams was a highly-touted, second-round draft pick, expected to push the oft-injured Wells for the starting job. Who's to say that's not how things will unfold in 2012?

PEYTON HILLIS, CHIEFS
Many dismiss Hillis, who is coming off a down season with the
Browns, as nothing more than a burly complement to Jamaal
Charles in Kansas City. But that thinking requires conveniently glossing over the fact that Charles is bouncing back from ACL surgery, no small deal. Hillis gives the Chiefs a player who is capable of handing the heavy lifting until Charles is 100 percent, and we suspect that won't be out of the gate. It is also worth noting Hillis' career-high 1,177 rushing yards in 2010 was achieved during his one season working with current Chiefs/former Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

41

SLEEPERS & UNDERVALUED PLAYERS (cont...)

LAMAR MILLER, DOLPHINS
Even with a large investment in Reggie Bush and second-year back
Daniel Thomas, Miami liked Miller's upside too much to pass on him early in Round 4 this April. He fell in the draft due to concerns about his knee and shoulder, but Miller is expected to be cleared for contact before the start of training camp. In addition to blazing
4.4 speed, Miller does not have the high college odometer reading many backs possess upon entering the NFL - only 335 carries at
Miami. Neither back ahead of Miller is a model of durability, so he could find himself in a starting role sooner than expected.

AHMAD BRADSHAW, GIANTS
Bradshaw has been discounted in the drafts because the Giants drafted David Wilson in the first round. But Wilson isn't a big back, and Brandon Jacobs is gone, so Bradshaw will get more goal-line carries than in seasons past. There's a risk the Giants will skew heavily toward the passing game as they did last year, but chances are the defense and run blocking will improve, creating a more favorable environment for carries.

DAVID WILSON, GIANTS
Trent Richardson and, to a lesser degree, Doug Martin are the most highly sought after rookie backs in fantasy drafts, but Wilson may provide more value relative to his likely draft slot. The Giants have moved on from Brandon Jacobs, and at the very least, Wilson - an explosive back - will immediately serve as a complementary option to the often banged up Ahmad Bradshaw. If Bradsha goes down,
Wilson's utility will skyrocket.

MIKEL LESHOURE, LIONS
Leshoure could end up with the lion's share of the Lions carries this season. A stout running back at 6-0, 227, Leshoure could have value if he merely emerges as the team's goal-line back. He's expected to be healthy following an Achilles' injury that cost him his rookie season but could face a suspension, depending on the outcome of his felony drug charge.

ALEX GREEN, PACKERS
Green is coming off a torn ACL, but the Packers were sufficiently pleased with his recovery that they let Ryan Grant go and didn't use a draft pick on a running back. James Starks failed to take over the full-time rushing duties last year - perhaps Green will push his way into the picture.

STEVAN RIDLEY, PATRIOTS
Ridley averaged 5.1 yards per carry in a limited role last season and should make a bigger impact now that Benjarvus Green-Ellis and his
181 carries are gone. Green-Ellis also found the end zone 24 times the last two seasons, showing the Patriots were willing to run the ball near the goal line. Ridley had a bigger impact last season than teammate Shane Vereen, who fought through a variety of injuries during his rookie campaign. As long as Ridley cures his fumbling issues, he could be the best fantasy option in the New England backfield. SHANE VEREEN, PATRIOTS
While power back Stevan Ridley is the obvious replacement for
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Vereen should be on the deep sleeper radar.
The 56th overall pick in April 2011, (Ridley actually lasted until No.
73), Vereen could have a significant role in the offense if the team

elects to go with a more versatile, all-around option. For now, a committee approach remains likely, and veteran Joseph Addai is also in the mix, but the situation is so unsettled as to be up for grabs. If one back does emerge as the featured guy, he’d have a lot of value in that environment.

MIKE GOODSON, RAIDERS
Goodson received zero carries last season, which ended prematurely thanks to a hamstring injury. But he totaled 762 yards on just
143 touches in 2010, when he broke only one fewer tackle than
LeSean McCoy despite seeing 463 fewer snaps. Darren McFadden is the undisputed starter, but he's never appeared in more than 13 games during his four-year career, averaging five DNPs per season.
Taiwan Jones is currently listed as the team's backup, but he was given just 18 touches during his rookie season and thanks to his slight build would likely remain in a change-of-pace role should
McFadden go down, ceding lead back duties to Goodson.

ISAIAH PEAD, RAMS
Don't buy the early talk that Pead isn't guaranteed to be the backup to Steven Jackson, or that he doesn't have the size or strength to be a full-time back. Pay attention to what the team has done - by selecting him with the 50th overall pick, it's clear that the Rams have big plans for him, and they further demonstrated their belief in him by not signing a brand-name backup.

ISAAC REDMAN, STEELERS
Rashard Mendenhall likely will miss some, if not most, of 2012 with a knee injury, Pittsburgh has nobody notable in the backfield except for Redman, and Ben Roethlisberger doesn't steal goal line carries.
Redman lacks explosiveness, but who's to say he can't plod his way to 1,100 yards and 10-12 TDs (in a Michael Turner sort of way)? Redman has never done that over a full season, but that's why he'll be drafted so low.

BEN TATE, TEXANS
Tate had four fumbles in limited work last year and isn't nearly the receiver Arian Foster is, but he also averaged 5.4 YPC, which was tied for second best in the NFL (minimum 100 carries). Tate forced
30 missed tackles - only 10 backs had more, while 45 saw more snaps. There's little question Houston's system is the best in the
NFL or RB production, and while Tate has battled injuries in the past, when healthy he's proven to be not only adequate but a top15 type talent. If Foster were to go down, Tate could easily be a top-three fantasy commodity. Players with this rare type of upside should be drafted aggressively.

WIDE RECEIVER
A.J. GREEN, BENGALS
Hardly a sleeper in the traditional sense as he'll no doubt be drafted in the second or third round, Green has a case for being the No. 2 receiver overall behind only Calvin Johnson. At 6-4, 210, and with great speed and athleticism, Green is a weapon in all areas of the field, including the red zone. He also has very little competition for targets, as rookie Mohamed Sanu is projected to start opposite him, and Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham are the only other established pass-catches in the offense. Andy Dalton impressed as a rookie and should only get better. The Bengals should air it out more this year, and if they do, Green should be a monster. His ceiling is
No. 1 overall WR, his floor is probably 1,000 yards, eight scores.
42

SLEEPERS & UNDERVALUED PLAYERS (cont...)

GREG LITTLE, BROWNS
Despite not being named a starting wide receiver until Week 6, Little managed to lead the Browns in receptions (61) and receiving yards
(709). While those numbers aren't typical of a team's best receiver it's important to keep in mind Colt McCoy was under center. The
Browns drafted Brandon Weeden who should start and be an upgrade over McCoy immediately. While Little dropped 12 balls
(tied for third), his 121 targets were good for 18th among wide receivers. The Browns will likely be playing from behind for much of the season which bodes well for more passing opportunities.

even get 100 targets, and Aaron Rodgers spreads the ball around a good deal. With Jermichael Finley injury and drop prone, Donald
Driver aging and possibly not on the roster and James Jones possessing merely average skills, Cobb could emerge as the team's
No. 3 receiver by season's end - and that's assuming everyone stays healthy. Cobb is small, but he's very quick, runs good routes and is dangerous in the open field.

BRANDON LAFELL, PANTHERS

Vincent Jackson is in Tampa, Antonio Gates is aging, Robert
Meachem has never been anything close to a No. 1 receiver and
Malcolm Floyd is best suited as a complementary target. Brown has potential for a breakout season with star QB Philip Rivers looking for a bounce back. Remember, when you're targeting sleeper WRs, look for young guys with elite QBs.

LaFell's second season came with an upgrade to quarterback Cam
Newton, and the duo appeared to develop a strong rapport over the course of the year. LaFell finished with 36 catches for 613 yards, averaging an impressive 10.9 yards per target and providing the
Panthers with a second big-play threat at receiver behind veteran
Steve Smith. Although he will not be handed the starting job opposite Smith, LaFell should be a heavy favorite entering training camp and could be on the brink of a breakout if his role in the Carolina offense continues to grow.

MALCOM FLOYD, CHARGERS

T IGHT END

VINCENT BROWN, CHARGERS

Floyd returned from a hip injury in Week 13 and was an elite receiver over the final five games of the regular season, averaging 91.0
YPG and hauling in four touchdown passes during that span. With the loss of Vincent Jackson in free agency, Floyd should have the opportunity to see an increased target volume from quarterback
Philip Rivers over a full season. With elite per-target numbers over the last four seasons (10.3, 10.5, 9.3, 12.2) and a quarterback that led the NFL in yards per attempt from 2008-10, the pieces are in place for Floyd to produce his first career 1,000-yard season.

JONATHAN BALDWIN, CHIEFS
With Dwayne Bowe’s contract still an issue at press time, Baldwin stands a chance to see some valuable added practice reps as the
2012 season approaches. The 26th overall pick in last year’s draft,
Baldwin disappointed as a rookie, catching just 21 passes for 254 yards in 11 games, but at 6-4, 230, Baldwin possesses great size and has the upside to develop into a dangerous downfield threat.

RANDY MOSS, 49ERS
After a year away from the game, Moss is back with the 49ers, and reportedly looking as fast and spry as ever. The 49ers are deep at the receiver position with Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham and first-round rookie A.J. Jenkins, but none is so established or talented that Moss couldn't overtake them should he flash his previous form. The Niners are also a run-first team with merely an average quarterback, but even with an all-world defense last year, Alex
Smith threw for 3,144 yards and those have to go to somebody. It's possible - even likely - Moss, now 35, is finished, and he'll fill a
Chad Ochocinco-on-the-Patriots role. But downside for deep sleepers doesn't matter - you merely drop them and move on.

RANDALL COBB, PACKERS
Cobb made the most of his 31 targets last year, getting a whopping
12.1 YPT and could very well have a larger role this season. Greg
Jennings and Jordy Nelson are the lead dogs, but Nelson didn't

EVAN MOORE, BROWNS
Moore entered last season as an under-the-radar type with expectations of growth on a Browns team looking for reliable pass-catching options. More opportunities led to only slightly improved results, as Moore turned the extra 21 targets he was given into 18 additional catches including a career-high four touchdowns. At 6-6, 250,
Moore has the size to be a force in the red zone, and whether it's
Brandon Weeden or Colt McCoy at quarterback, he's a sure-handed tight end on a team still looking for answers beyond Greg Little at wide receiver.

KYLE RUDOLPH, VIKINGS
The signing of John Carlson somewhat clouds Rudolph's status, but Rudolph should get more reps in his second year with the team and a presumably more stable quarterback situation in Minnesota.
Rudolph's size and speed should make him a good target over the middle and in the red zone, and having a full offseason and training camp should help him get in sync with second-year quarterback
Christian Ponder.

T EAM DEFENSE
BUFFALO BILLS
It's probably been a decade since anyone has drafted the Bills defense in a standard 10 or 12 team league, but the unit made huge strides during the offseason, highlighted by the signing of Pro
Bowl pass rusher Mario Williams. The Bills also signed Mark
Anderson and his 10 sacks while defensive tackle Marcell Dareus should take the next step in his second season. Pro Bowl DT Kyle
Williams should also be healthy, and the Bills added cornerback
Stephon Gilmore with their first pick in the draft. With an improved defensive line the sack totals should rise, and Gilmore should make plays on the back end.

43

B U S T S & O V E R V A L U E D P L AY E R S
Q UARTERBACK
MATTHEW STAFFORD, LIONS
Sure, Stafford threw for 5,038 yards and 41 TDs, and he has Calvin
Johnson, but it took him 663 attempts - the third most in NFL history. His 7.6 YPA was not that far above league average (7.2), and there's no way the Lions will let their injury-prone franchise passer be exposed to that many hits again in 2012. Jahvid Best is returning from a concussion, and Mikel LeShoure and Kevin Smith are in the fold as well. Expect the Lions to run the ball with far more frequency and at least somewhat more success and Stafford's attempts and production to come back down to earth.

CAM NEWTON, PANTHERS
The league caught up to Newton over the second half of the season.
Starting after the Panthers' bye week in Week 10, Newton's YPA each week in games not against the Bucs was 7.7 or less, frequently below 7.0 yards per game. But what about his historic rushing season? There's a strong chance that fades, just with natural regression, but more so around the goal line after the Panthers signed touchdown vulture Mike Tolbert in free agency away from the
Chargers. If you thought you were already frustrated with DeAngelo
Williams, just wait, it's going to get worse for him, too. Newton should improve on the passing side, but the likely drop in rushing touchdowns takes him out of first-round consideration.

RUNNING BACK
MATT FORTE, BEARS
This is almost too obvious. As talented as Forte is, in non-PPR leagues he was going way too high, as early as the end of the first round. At press time he had a massive contract issue as the Bears' franchise player - sure, often that gets resolved before the season starts, but just as often you get the Chris Johnson season. More important, he's not a good goal-line back, and to address that shortcoming, the Bears brought in Michael Bush. Bush can also catch passes, so he's a very real threat to take away a lot of Forte's value.
Forte's not worth a top-10 RB slot, and that's what it's going to take to land him in most leagues.

TRENT RICHARDSON, BROWNS
It's all about the price tag with Richardson. If owners become increasingly comfortable with him as a top-15 overall pick, there is simply too much risk as he'll cut his teeth in an offense that ranked
30th in the NFL in scoring last season. In his favor, is the opportunity for a rare single-back arrangement that will lead to receiving and goal-line opportunities, but Richardson could see an overwhelming number of eight-man fronts if the Browns' passing game fails to keep opposing defenses honest with Brandon Weeden and Colt
McCoy at the helm.

JAMAAL CHARLES, CHIEFS
Charles is bouncing back from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 2 of the 2011 season, yet he continues to fly off draft boards as though there were little or no question surrounding his health. While his recovery is said to be going quite well, even if Charles is deemed fit to play in Week 1, it's fair to wonder if he'll have recovered all of

his previous burst and cutting ability by that that time. Moreover, the
Chiefs signing of the rugged Peyton Hillis gives the team a player that they can rely on out of the gate, while easing Charles back.

REGGIE BUSH, DOLPHINS
It's cute that he believes that he could lead the NFL in rushing this year, but that's just your standard offseason noise. You can even forget his long injury history - after all, if "Fragile Fred" Taylor can become "Durable Fred" over the course of his career, anything is possible. But there's still plenty of competition with Daniel Thomas and now Lamar Miller around, and a new head coach that won't likely be as reliant on the running game (last year Miami was sixth in the
NFL in rushing attempts at 29.3 per game). Don't get caught paying feature back prices on a player that's going to have to share the rock. FRANK GORE, 49ERS
Gore played all 16 games last season for only the second time in his career, and that came with a modest 4.3 YPC mark and a steep drop in production as a receiver. In fact, over the final eight games, he averaged just 3.5 YPC and only had four receptions. Gore is clearly in decline, as his physical style has resulted in a loss of explosiveness. Moreover, San Francisco added Brandon Jacobs, who's likely to take over goal-line work, through free agency and also selected LaMichael James in the second round of the draft.
Kendall Hunter might be the biggest threat of all to steal touches, so it's a crowded backfield. Expect Gore to remain the team's lead back, but he's an injury risk, and a decreased workload is a near certainty. MARSHAWN LYNCH, SEAHAWKS
Lynch was one of football's biggest surprises last year, when he totaled 1,416 yards with 13 touchdowns, scoring in 11 consecutive games at one point. Still, banking on last year's stats would be awfully risky considering his career. He's not a great receiver and usually has a pedestrian YPC, so he relies heavily on volume (and scoring opportunities). There's little doubt Seattle will once again treat him like a workhorse in 2012 (which is more than half the battle with running backs these days), but he's likely to cost a top-15 pick, so realize you're betting far more on role than skill.

ADRIAN PETERSON, VIKINGS
Peterson is another gifted runner bouncing back from a major knee injury, which he suffered late last December. While his healing ability and work ethic favor an eventual return to form, he's not bionic and thus may not be all the way back until 2013. He's been drafted in mocks alarmingly early for our taste, and unless Peterson plummets, let someone else take the risk on him.

WIDE RECEIVER
DEMARYIUS THOMAS, BRONCOS
Thomas is big, fast and explosive, and now he has Peyton Manning rather than Tim Tebow throwing him the ball. But Thomas was a bit raw coming into the league, and it's not clear whether he thrived in part because of Tebow's scrambling, broken-play, chuck-it-downfield style. Now he'll have to adjust to a quarterback used to crisp routes and precise timing - areas that could be weaknesses for
44

BUSTS & OVERVALUED PLAYERS (cont...)

Thomas. Moreover, Manning won't buy any time in the pocket, meaning the ball will come out a lot quicker and earlier than it did with Tebow. Finally, we're talking about a 36-year old quarterback returning from a serious injury after a year off and adjusting to a new system with new, unpolished receivers. At the very least, Thomas' ascent toward the top of the receiver ranks could take some time.

VINCENT JACKSON, BUCCANEERS
Jackson is going from one of the best passing offenses in San Diego to a much worse situation in Tampa Bay, and it's always worrisome when a wide receiver switches teams, especially in Year 1. Maybe
Josh Freeman bounces back, and it's possible Mike Williams is more of a complementary target than a star, but Jackson has never recorded 70 receptions, reached 1,200 receiving yards or scored 10 touchdowns in a season during his seven-year career.

STEVE SMITH, PANTHERS
As much as Smith was undervalued last season, it's likely he'll be overvalued for this one. With the surprising emergence of Cam
Newton, Smith exploded over the first half of the year with 918 receiving yards and four touchdowns but managed only 476 receiving yards and three touchdowns over the final eight games. Without any reports of a significant injury, this indicates the league adjusted to Smith's return to form. He'll also be 33 this season, isn't a big red-zone threat and hasn't had more than seven touchdowns in any of the last five seasons.

MIKE WALLACE, STEELERS
Wallace is not only unhappy with his contract - he skipped OTAs in
May - but his production fell off precipitously in last year's second half. That might have been due to more double coverage, but
Wallace will still be the object of teams' attention this year, with more targets going to Antonio Brown as a result. Wallace is as fast as any player in the league and will still make plays down the field. But he's also a low-volume player for a top-ranked receiver and isn't likely to see a lot of looks in the red zone.

TIGHT END
ANTONIO GATES, CHARGERS
At 31, the wheels are starting to fall off for Gates, as he has struggled with foot problems in consecutive seasons. Draft Aaron
Hernandez, Jermichael Finley or even Vernon Davis instead.

ROB GRONKOWSKI, PATRIOTS
Make no mistake. Gronkowski is a beast. But he is bouncing back from a nasty ankle injury, and it's not hard to imagine him losing some looks (in particular in the red zone) to the likes of fellow TE
Aaron Hernandez and free-agent acquisition WR Brandon Lloyd.
Expecting him to duplicate last season's record-setting numbers
(90/1,327/18) is unfair, however, and where you'll need to draft him these days - likely the second round - is too high for a tight end.

45

IMPACT ROOKIES
Q UARTERBACK
BRANDON WEEDEN, BROWNS
Weeden likely will start right away, but his rookie year figures to be ugly. The 22nd overall pick will be throwing to the league’s worst receivers in the league’s toughest defensive division, and he’ll get four games against the NFC East, too, which might be the secondtoughest defensive division.

ANDREW LUCK, COLTS
Fast, quick and strong for a quarterback, Luck has too much talent
(particularly as a runner) not to emerge as a spot-start candidate at the very least in most formats. While the team’s wideout trio of
Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie and T.Y. Hilton don’t stand out, they do, however, fit well with Luck’s accuracy on short and intermediate routes. Luck’s value is in any case greatly aided by his well above average running skills.

RYAN TANNEHILL, DOLPHINS
Although Miami drafted him eighth overall, Tannehill is unrefined and dealt with consistency issues in college. It’s difficult to see him beating out Matt Moore (and David Garrard) for the Week 1 starting role in Miami. But with Miami highly unlikely to compete on any notable level this year, the team will presumably turn to Tannehill once it has nothing to lose. If it does, Tannehill’s rare athleticism makes him a potential spot-start candidate against weak defenses.

ROBERT GRIFFIN, REDSKINS
Even if Griffin struggles in real football terms as a rookie, his likely high pass attempt volume in Washington should result in big aggregate numbers. With a deep ball that should be among the league’s best from Day One and 4.41 speed, Griffin should make good use of his weapons, especially down field. Moreover, a significant number of those pass attempts will be converted to scramble runs by
Griffin, which figures to be a huge aid to his fantasy value.

powerful backs. The Browns are far from an ideal situation, but team president Mike Holmgren already referred to Richardson as a
“three-down back,” and after Holmgren traded four picks to move up one spot in order to select him, Richardson will likely be asked to be a workhorse immediately.

DOUG MARTIN, BUCCANEERS
The Buccaneers used their first-round pick to draft Martin, who totaled 1,554 yards with 18 touchdowns during his final season at
Boise State. At 5-9, 219, he offers big-play ability but is also considered a complete back, capable as a receiver and in pass protection. LeGarrette Blount struggles badly in those latter two areas, so expect the rookie to start immediately, especially since the new regime traded up to select Martin and has zero ties to Blount.

LAMAR MILLER, DOLPHINS
Despite being 5-11, 212, Miller’s 4.40 40 time was the fastest among all backs at the NFL Combine, but he struggles in pass protection and has dealt with durability issues in the past. It’s hard to see how he fits into a Dolphins backfield with Reggie Bush and
Daniel Thomas ahead of him on the depth chart. He’s a project in the short term.

LAMICHAEL JAMES, 49ERS
Over his three years at Oregon, James totaled 5,665 yards with 57 touchdowns. The Ducks offense was anything but pro style, so there will be a major adjustment, but it’s hard to argue with that production. James will be used mostly as a change-of-pace back as a rookie, likely becoming more of a presence on punt returns down the road as well.

DAVID WILSON, GIANTS

R UNNING BACK

After a couple of nondescript seasons at Virginia Tech, Wilson busted out as a junior last year, rushing for 1,709 yards with nine touchdowns while getting 5.9 YPC. The former track star is extremely athletic, and he led all of college football in yards after contact last season. Taken in the first round, Wilson is expected to open 2012 behind Ahmad Bradshaw on the depth chart, but he’s a flier with plenty of upside.

RONNIE HILLMAN, BRONCOS

ISAIAH PEAD, RAMS

After racking up 1,981 yards and 20 touchdowns, Hillman left San
Diego State after his sophomore season last year. While many considered it a premature move, the Broncos traded up to draft him early in the third round. A different pace than incumbent Willis
McGahee could mean the team is searching for playmaking ability out of the backfield, as Hillman is much more explosive at this stage of their respective careers. With Peyton Manning taking over at QB, Denver’s offense should be much improved, making Hillman a sleeper.

The Rams took Pead with the 50th pick of the draft and reportedly envision him as Steven Jackson’s long-term replacement. At 5-10,
197, and with home run speed, Pead has been compared to Jamaal
Charles. Pead is slated for a third-down role as a rookie, but
Jackson could break down at any time. There are few other alternatives on St. Louis’ roster, so Pead could easily make an impact as a rookie.

TRENT RICHARDSON, BROWNS

The Ravens spent the 84th pick in the draft on Pierce. He has good balance and a nose for the end zone but lacks skills as a receiver and isn’t overly quick. Baltimore hopes he can replace Ricky
Williams as the team’s backup, and while that job won’t entail much if Ray Rice stays healthy, it could have plenty of potential if Rice were to go down.

Richardson is widely viewed as the best running back prospect coming into the league since Adrian Peterson. He can make defenders miss with shifty moves, possesses breakaway speed in the open field and will immediately become one of the NFL’s most

BERNARD PIERCE, RAVENS

46

IMPACT ROOKIES (cont...)

W IDE RECEIVER
ALSHON JEFFERY, BEARS
At 6-3, 216, the 45th overall pick in this year’s draft could be involved in the Bears offense right away. The Bears envision him operating out of the slot. That means he’d have to beat out the more polished Earl Bennett. It could happen eventually, but our bet is on Bennett in the near term. That said, if Jeffery were to win the job, his red-zone skills give him added upside.

MARVIN JONES, BENGALS
Taken in the fifth round of this year’s draft, the 6-2, 199-pound
Jones lands in a nice situation, with only A.J. Green established on the outside and second-year quarterback Andy Dalton looking like a keeper. Mohamed Sanu has as little more bulk and is probably a slight favorite for the job, but this battle will be decided in training camp. MOHAMED SANU, BENGALS

RUEBEN RANDLE, GIANTS
With Mario Manningham leaving via free agency, the Giants will need to find a new No. 3 receiver. Randle, the team’s second round pick, has a good chance to secure the role. The Giants passing game generated the sixth most yards in league history last season, and Hakeem Nicks is nursing a surgically repaired foot that might threaten his status for Week 1. Randle – should he hold off Ramses
Barden and Jerrel Jernigan – has some upside in this environment.

JUSTIN BLACKMON, JAGUARS
The fifth overall pick in the 2012 draft, Blackmon is a highly polished prospect who should vie to be the Jaguars’ top target right out of the gate. The Jaguars quarterback situation is arguably the worst in the league, but with only Laurent Robinson and Mike
Thomas as competition for targets, Blackmon has a chance to be the focus of the passing game as a rookie.

T IGHT END
DWAYNE ALLEN, COLTS

With Andy Dalton coming off a promising rookie year, and A.J.
Green sure to draw the bulk of the defense’s attention, Sanu finds himself in a more favorable environment than most rookies. At 6-2,
211, Sanu has good size, but only average speed. The third-rounder projects as a possession type in the pros. Jordan Shipley is also around, but he’ll mostly work out of the slot, so Sanu should challenge for a starting job.

The Colts made a curious selection with 2011 Mackey Award winner Allen in the third round of April's draft, considering they already had used their second-round pick on tight end Coby Fleener. Allen is an athletic 6-4, 255, who scored eight touchdowns in 14 games for Clemson last year. Fleener is considered the better receiver.

MICHAEL FLOYD, CARDINALS

COBY FLEENER, COLTS

The 13th overall pick in this year’s draft, Floyd finds himself in a favorable situation in Arizona. Given the team’s lack of quality depth at wide receiver, Floyd has a chance to start opposite Larry
Fitzgerald out of the gate. That means a lot of single coverage and a fair number of targets on a team that doesn’t throw much to its backs or tight ends.

The Colts selected Fleener with the 34th pick in the draft, pairing him with college teammate Andrew Luck. One of Luck’s favorite targets at Stanford, Fleener clocked a 4.45 40 at Stanford's pro day and ranked second among tight ends at the NFL Combine with 27 bench presses at 225 pounds. He’ll likely share some targets with third-round pick Dwayne Allen, but his familiarity with Luck should make Fleener a prime target. He should make an immediate impact.

A.J. JENKINS, 49ERS
Taken with the 30th pick of this year’s draft, the 6-0, 192-pound
Jenkins has just average size, but good speed (4.39 40 at the NFL
Combine), runs crisp routes and has good hands. Jenkins’ upside in a run-first offense with a good deal of competition for targets is on the modest side in Year 1, but he’s a prospect to watch for the second half of the year and beyond.

MICHAEL EGNEW, DOLPHINS
The Dolphins drafted Egnew in the third round this year, which suggests they aren't necessarily sold on Anthony Fasano. Scouts rave about his athleticism and potential in the passing game. Miami's quarterback situation remains a work in progress, but the lack of wide-receiver talent could offer Egnew a fair amount of targets.

47

POSITION BATTLES
Bears RB

BUCCANEERS RB

Although Matt Forte will get most of the carries between the 20s,
Michael Bush is setting up to be a red-zone vulture. He scored from eight and one Saturday and looks like the goal-line back. Continue to draft Forte with confidence, but with the caveat that he's unlikely to rack up the TDs.

LeGarrette Blount suffered what at first looked like a serious knee injury but is instead a minor groin injury in Friday's game. Still, even if the injury is minor, he's already behind Doug Martin, so Blount's chances of winning the job took a hit. Blount is back on the practice field, but it looks more and more like Martin every day.

BEARS WR

CARDINALS QB

Alshon Jeffery had another nice game and has seven receptions for
97 yards in two games. He might still be behind Earl Bennett for the
No. 3 job, but his ceiling is much higher, and he could pass Bennett before the season begins and even catch Devin Hester as well.
Jeffery is nipping at his heels.

John Skelton was once again a bit better than his competitor, Kevin
Kolb, for the starting job, though neither played enough to make the decision crystal clear. Skelton completed all three of his attempts while Kolb took three sacks. For what it's worth, it appears the
Cardinals are leaning toward Skelton, who will start the next preseason game. Owners of Larry Fitzgerald are waiting with baited breath. BENGALS WR
The Bengals have a lot of options in the role opposite A.J. Green.
Armon Binns and Brandon Tate are "No. 2 and No. 2A," but game action will probably dictate where they end up. Binns and Andrew
Hawkins didn't play in last week's exhibition game, while Mohamed
Sanu kept his hopes alive by catching a touchdown pass.

BENGALS TE
Jermaine Gresham has a sprained knee. He should be OK, but he probably won't play this week, and it's getting close to Opening
Day. Veteran Donald Lee is the backup.

BRONCOS RB
Ronnie Hillman is expected to win the backup job to Willis
McGahee, but he has to get on the field to do it. He finally got on the practice field Monday after missing the first two exhibition games. Lance Ball is penciled in as the backup, but if Hillman can show he's healthy, he should overtake him. Knowshon Moreno and
Xavier Omon are still around for depth, but that's it.

BROWNS RB
Coach Pat Shurmur said Trent Richardson has made good progress and may be ahead of schedule, but there's no concrete timetable yet, so Montario Hardesty or Brandon Jackson could start Opening
Day. Both runners scored touchdowns last in the last exhibition game, but Hardesty, who gained 45 yards on 12 carries, was better and performed against better defenses. He definitely has the lead over Jackson.

BROWNS WR
Mohamed Massaquoi claimed he didn't suffer a concussion a week ago, but he was held out of Thursday's game as a precaution
(though he's practicing), which let Josh Gordon close the gap even more. Gordon will eventually start, but will it be from Day One?
Josh Cribbs, Travis Benjamin and Jordan Norwood aren't going to win that job.

CARDINALS RB
Ryan Williams finally got on the field in an exhibition game, rushing for 25 yards on five attempts, but once again Beanie Wells sat out.
Williams hasn't quite won the job yet, but the oft-injured Wells has to play or the Cardinals won't have a choice but to give it to
Williams.

CHARGERS RB
Ronnie Brown started and got the most touches – by far - of the
San Diego RB candidates against the Cowboys on Saturday. Most of his damage was done by his four catches for 37 yards, but six carries (to Le'Ron McClain's two) seem to indicate that he'll have the job until Ryan Mathews returns, probably sometime in
September.

CHARGERS WR
Vincent Brown's broken ankle probably benefited Eddie Royal more than anyone else. While Brown, who should miss at least eight weeks, was all set to play behind Malcom Floyd and Robert
Meachem, Royal now has a secure hold on the slot position. Royal missed practice with a sore groin, but Roscoe Parrish is the only receiver of note behind Royal on the depth chart.

CHIEFS RB
Vulture alert! Although Jamaal Charles (in limited duty) has looked better, Peyton Hillis has two short-yardage touchdowns so far during preseason. The Chiefs will want to protect Charles as much as possible this year, and what better way than to let Hillis get the oneyard score after Charles just ran for 73 yards?

CHIEFS WR
Dwayne Bowe signed a tender and passing his conditioning tests, but he'll need to learn the playbook fast to be ready for the regular season. That said, he's now the undisputed top receiver, so Jon

48

POSITION BATTLES (cont...)

Baldwin and Steve Breaston, among others, fall down a notch.
Baldwin is still an interesting sleeper, and with Bowe commanding double teams, he could shine in 2012.

COLTS RB
Coach Chuck Pagano pegged Donald Brown as the clear starter.
Delone Carter and Mewelde Moore, who both missed Sunday's game with injuries, will back him up.

COLTS WR
Austin Collie suffered his fourth concussion in the last two years
Sunday, and it doesn't look good. Don't be surprised to see him shut down for a while, though Collie claims it's not a concussion and is feeling good. Buyer beware. Donnie Avery (who missed the game with thigh injury), T.Y. Hilton and Lavon Brazill are next in line, and starter Reggie Wayne could get used even more heavily. Brazill played with the first team with Avery and Collie out, so he might have the best chance of winning a significant role, but Avery is expected to play this weekend against Washington.

COWBOYS WR
Miles Austin already missed practice and might not play during the preseason, but Dez Bryant rolled his ankle Monday in practice and also discovered he had patellar tendinitis. With both stars out, the race for the third receiver – which already had a lot of candidates – takes on added importance. Kevin Ogletree seems to be in the lead, but Cole Beasley, Danny Coale, Dwayne Harris and Andre
Holmes have a chance.

COWBOYS TE
Jason Witten has a slightly lacerated spleen and must remain "still and idle" for at least a week. Sounds fun. He doesn't need surgery, but his regular-season status (and 139-game streak) is in doubt.
John Phillips is expected to take the reins at tight end until Witten returns, but he missed some time with a sprained ankle and didn't catch a pass despite starting Saturday. Meanwhile, rookie James
Hanna caught four passes for 31 yards. Hanna has work to do when it comes to blocking, but he could benefit most from a prolonged Witten absence.

DOLPHINS QB

49ERS RB
It looked like Brandon Jacobs suffered a serious knee injury in San
Francisco's last exhibition game, but the MRI came back clean and he could be ready in time for the regular season. Although he's fourth on the depth chart, he likely will get a lot of goal-line work, so an extended absence could have fantasy repercussions. Frank
Gore, who is already the workhorse, might see a little more action in the red zone, while Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James will benefit from having one less mouth to feed.

GIANTS RB
Ahmad Bradshaw limited with a minor hand injury, the Giants' backup job takes on added importance. Rookie David Wilson played with the first team Monday, while D.J. Ware, who struggled against the Jets on Saturday, is behind him. Wilson's speed makes him an intriguing prospect, and he'll get plenty of carries this year even if
Bradshaw stays healthy.

JAGUARS RB
Coach Mike Mularkey said there's no guarantee Maurice JonesDrew will earn playing time even if he ends his holdout. Rashad
Jennings might get a short-term boost in that case, but it's obvious
MJD won't be on the bench for long. Still, the holdout has had no end in sight, and now Jones-Drew might be looking for a trade.
Jennings' stock continues to go up, and Montell Owens looks like he'll back up Jennings for now, especially with Keith Toston out a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury.

JETS WR
The Jets have had enough problems this summer with their offensive line, but the holes at wide receiver could also be problematic in
2012. Santonio Holmes (ribs) could miss the rest of the preseason, and he hasn't even been cleared for contact. Chaz Schilens (ankle) will sit out again Saturday because of an ankle injury. Jeremy Kerley
(hamstring) is at least practicing, and rookie Stephen Hill is healthy
(at least compared to the others), but even if Mark Sanchez and Tim
Tebow get time to throw, there may not be anyone worth throwing to.

LIONS RB

Ryan Tannehill didn't play well in his last start, but that doesn't matter: he was announced as the regular-season starter Monday. Matt
Moore will back him up until David Garrard is ready, and depending on how well Tannehill plays, Garrard (or Moore) might no longer be needed. Mikel Leshoure returned to practice, but Jahvid Best looks like he'll start the year on the PUP list, and there's no timetable for his return. Kevin Smith's hold on the job gets stronger by the day, especially with the likes of Joique Bell, Keiland Williams and the injured Stefan Logan offering up little challenge. If Smith gets off to a poor start, however, Leshoure could grab the job when he returns from his suspension in Week 3.

EAGLES QB

LIONS WR

Michael Vick suffered a rib contusion Monday, as his injury-filled career rolls on. With former Northwestern star Mike Kafka out with a hand injury, Nick Foles was called into action a little early and played very well. Chances are, one of these backups will have to play this year given Vick's style of play, but after Monday's performance, it's possible Foles will leapfrog Kafka.

Although Titus Young and Nate Burleson have had strong camps,
Ryan Broyles played Friday and caught two passes. A torn ACL torpedoed Broyles' lofty draft status, but he has more talent than Young and Burleson and could overtake either or both and win the No. 2 job. That's a bit unlikely this late in summer, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him in the starting lineup before the end of the season.

49

POSITION BATTLES (cont...)

PACKERS RB
Cedric Benson may be the starter when the season begins, as
James Starks (turf toe) is still a couple of weeks away from returning. More important, Alex Green got on the field for last week's game and should get plenty of carries in the first half this week. Any of these three could lead the Packers in rushing this year, but right now we'd put our money on Benson.

PANTHERS WR
Louis Murphy appears to have the edge over Seyi Ajirotutu and
Kealoha Pilares for the No. 3 WR spot, though David Gettis will be a contender when he fully heals from a torn ACL. Unfortunately,
Gettis is not playing yet, and it wouldn't be shocking if he went on the PUP list.

RAIDERS WR
Jacoby Ford suffered a sprained left foot Friday and is going to miss some time. He injured the same foot last season and missed six games, so his status for the start of the season is in jeopardy.
Rod Streator has caught a ton of passes, and with Denarius Moore
(hamstring) not yet back in practice, Streator could find himself in the starting lineup before long.

RAMS WR

could be in the conversation for his job, though the Saints signed
Greg Camarillo on Sunday, which might push Morgan out of contention.

SAINTS K
There was only one field-goal attempt in Friday's game, and Garrett
Hartley nailed it from 37 yards. Hartley is still the favorite over John
Kasay, but the competition likely will not be decided until after the team's final two preseason games.

SEAHAWKS QB
Tarvaris Jackson was benched for the first game and did not play in the second preseason game either. Coach Pete Carroll said
Jackson is sitting because the team knows what they have, but it looks like Russell Wilson has won backup job, at least, and Jackson will not be kept around. Carroll said Jackson is still in running to be
Week 1 starter, but it doesn't look like it from his preseason usage, and if the Seahawks are trying to trade Jackson, as has been reported, one would think they'd try to showcase him a little.
Seattle is happy with Matt Flynn and Wilson, who will start this week, so Jackson is certainly expendable. For Wilson, a good showing in the upcoming exhibition could vault him over Flynn.

SEAHAWKS WR

No one has really staked their claim. Brandon Gibson returned to practice Monday after missing Sunday's game, but Tuesday's practice was cut short due to soreness. Brian Quick has looked good in camp, but he suffered back spasms Sunday. It looks like Steven
Smith and Danny Amendola are safe, but that doesn't mean they'll start. Your guess is as good as ours.

Terrell Owens made his Seattle debut Saturday, and the split-end job is up for grabs, but he looked rusty. Not only did he not catch any of his five targets, but he dropped an easy touchdown pass.
Don't be surprised if he's cut before the end of camp. In the meantime, Doug Baldwin (hamstring) and Ben Obomanu (neck) were both held out Saturday. Either could still win the split end job as well, but
Golden Tate and Braylon Edwards are still around too.

REDSKINS RB

STEELERS RB

With Tim Hightower (knee) and Roy Helu (both Achilles') both out,
Evan Royster still only got two carries. Still, he's clearly the healthiest of the trio, though Hightower is practicing and may play this week. When all are healthy, it's anybody's game, but rarely are all healthy at once. Royster is in the lead by default, but Hightower could still make some noise.

Some interesting movement here in the last week. First, Rashard
Mendenhall was surprising taken off the PUP list, which means maybe he'll be ready to return within the first six weeks of the season. Second, Isaac Redman missed Sunday's game with groin and hip injuries. Jonathan Dwyer is probably next in line and has averaged more than eight yards per carry this preseason. Chris Rainey and Baron Batch are next in line.

REDSKINS WR
Leonard Hankerson, Santana Moss and Josh Morgan are competing for two spots in the rotation, though all should make the team.
The pecking order appears immaterial at this point, but there could be a drop-off from the person deemed worthy of the "No. 2" moniker and the others. Bet on Hankerson for now, but there's still a few weeks left.

SAINTS WR
Nick Toon once again missed a game, and he's doubtful this week, but he still seems to be penciled in as the No. 4 wideout, especially with Adrian Arrington out after undergoing knee surgery. Joseph
Morgan (three catches - including 53-yard TD – for 68 yards) had a nice game Friday, and if Toon doesn't come back soon, Morgan

TEXANS K
The Texans should score a lot of points this year, which means the
Shayne Graham vs. Randy Bullock competition is of some interest.
Graham made two long field goals (from 48 and 49) while Bullock missed his only attempt (albeit from 51 yards) Saturday. It's still too early to hand this one out, but it helps to know that they're both booting it into the end zone on kickoffs.

TITANS QB
Although Jake Locker was terrible in his last start and it looked like
Matt Hasselbeck had pulled even with him, The Tennessean still reported Monday that Locker would win the starting job. So we don't have to keep talking about this every week.
50

POSITION BATTLES (cont...)

VIKINGS RB
Adrian Peterson might not get majority of carries in the early going, so bump up Toby Gerhart a little. Peterson is less than eight months removed from tearing his ACL, but he's practicing more and more every day. Peterson wants to play this Friday, but the Vikings are likely to play it safe with their star and keep him out until the regular season starts. Gerhart will be ready.

51

NFL DEPTH CHARTS
T EAM
TEAM

POS FIRST TEAM
P OS

SECOND TEAM

THIRD TEAM

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

JOHN SKELTON
BEANIE WELLS
LARRY FITZGERALD
TODD HEAP
JAY FEELY

KEVIN KOLB
RYAN WILLIAMS
ANDRE ROBERTS
JEFF KING

RICHARD BARTEL
LAROD STEPHENS-HOWLING
EARLY DOUCET
ROB HOUSLER

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

MATT RYAN
MICHAEL TURNER
RODDY WHITE
TONY GONZALEZ
MATT BRYANT

CHRIS REDMAN
JASON SNELLING
JULIO JONES
MICHAEL PALMER

JOHN PARKER WILSON
JACQUIZZ RODGERS
HARRY DOUGLAS
RYAN WINTERSWYK

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

JOE FLACCO
RAY RICE
ANQUAN BOLDIN
ED DICKSON
BILLY CUNDIFF

TYROD TAYLOR
BERNARD PIERCE
TORREY SMITH
DAVON DREW

CURTIS PAINTER
ANTHONY ALLEN
JACOBY JONES
DENNIS PITTA

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

RYAN FITZPATRICK
FRED JACKSON
STEVE JOHNSON
SCOTT CHANDLER
RIAN LINDELL

TYLER THIGPEN
C.J. SPILLER
DAVID NELSON
LEE SMITH

VINCE YOUNG
TASHARD CHOICE
DONALD JONES
MIKE CAUSSIN

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

CAM NEWTON
DEANGELO WILLIAMS
STEVE SMITH
GREG OLSEN
OLINDO MARE

DEREK ANDERSON
JONATHAN STEWART
BRANDON LAFELL
GARY BARNIDGE

JIMMY CLAUSEN
JOSH VAUGHAN
DAVID GETTIS
BEN HARTSOCK

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

JAY CUTLER
MATT FORTE
BRANDON MARSHALL
KELLEN DAVIS
ROBBIE GOULD

JASON CAMPBELL
MICHAEL BUSH
DEVIN HESTER
EVAN RODRIGUEZ

JOSH MCCOWN
KAHLIL BELL
EARL BENNETT
MATT SPAETH

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

ANDY DALTON
BENJARVUS GREEN-ELLIS
A.J. GREEN
JERMAINE GRESHAM
MIKE NUGENT

BRUCE GRADKOWSKI
BERNARD SCOTT
MOHAMED SANU
ORSON CHARLES

ZAC ROBINSON
BRIAN LEONARD
JORDAN SHIPLEY
COLIN COCHART

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

BRANDON WEEDEN
TRENT RICHARDSON
GREG LITTLE
BEN WATSON
PHIL DAWSON

COLT MCCOY
MONTARIO HARDESTY
MOHAMED MASSAQUOI
EVAN MOORE

SENECA WALLACE
CHRIS OGBONNAYA
JOSH CRIBBS
ALEX SMITH

A RIZONA

ATLANTA

BALTIMORE

BUFFALO

CAROLINA

CHICAGO

CINCINNATI

CLEVELAND

52

TEAM DEPTH CHAR TS (cont...)

T EAM
TEAM

POS FIRST TEAM
P OS

SECOND TEAM

THIRD TEAM

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

TONY ROMO
DEMARCO MURRAY
MILES AUSTIN
JASON WITTEN
DAN BAILEY

KYLE ORTON
FELIX JONES
DEZ BRYANT
JOHN PHILLIPS

STEPHEN MCGEE
PHILLIP TANNER
KEVIN OGLETREE
JAMES HANNA

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

PEYTON MANNING
WILLIS MCGAHEE
DEMARYIUS THOMAS
JOEL DREESSEN
MATT PRATER

CALEB HANIE
KNOWSHON MORENO
ERIC DECKER
JACOB TAMME

BROCK OSWEILER
RONNIE HILLMAN
ANDRE CALDWELL
VIRGIL GREEN

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

MATTHEW STAFFORD
JAHVID BEST
CALVIN JOHNSON
BRANDON PETTIGREW
JASON HANSON

SHAUN HILL
MIKEL LESHOURE
NATE BURLESON
TONY SCHEFFLER

KELLEN MOORE
KEVIN SMITH
TITUS YOUNG
WILL HELLER

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

AARON RODGERS
JAMES STARKS
GREG JENNINGS
JERMICHAEL FINLEY
MASON CROSBY

GRAHAM HARRELL
CEDRIC BENSON
JORDY NELSON
ANDREW QUARLESS

B.J. COLEMAN
BRANDON SAINE
JAMES JONES
TOM CRABTREE

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

MATT SCHAUB
ARIAN FOSTER
ANDRE JOHNSON
OWEN DANIELS
RANDY BULLOCK

T.J. YATES
BEN TATE
KEVIN WALTER
GARRETT GRAHAM

CASE KEENUM
JAVARRIS WILLIAMS
DEVIER POSEY
LOGAN BROCK

ANDREW LUCK
DONALD BROWN
REGGIE WAYNE
COBY FLEENER
ADAM VINATIERI

DREW STANTON
DELONE CARTER
AUSTIN COLLIE
DWAYNE ALLEN

CHANDLER HARNISH
VICK BALLARD
T.Y. HILTON
ANDRE SMITH

BLAINE GABBERT
MAURICE JONES-DREW
LAURENT ROBINSON
MARCEDES LEWIS
JOSH SCOBEE

CHAD HENNE
RASHAD JENNINGS
JUSTIN BLACKMON
ZACH MILLER

JORDAN PALMER
MONTELL OWENS
MIKE THOMAS
ZACH POTTER

MATT CASSEL
JAMAAL CHARLES
DWAYNE BOWE
TONY MOEAKI
RYAN SUCCOP

BRADY QUINN
PEYTON HILLIS
STEVE BREASTON
KEVIN BOSS

RICKY STANZI
DEXTER MCCLUSTER
JON BALDWIN
JAKE O'CONNELL

D ALLAS

DENVER

DETROIT

GREEN BAY

HOUSTON

INDIANAPOLIS
QB
RB
WR
TE
K

JACKSONVILLE
QB
RB
WR
TE
K

KANSAS CITY
QB
RB
WR
TE
K

53

TEAM DEPTH CHAR TS (cont...)

T EAM
TEAM

POS FIRST TEAM
P OS

SECOND TEAM

THIRD TEAM

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

RYAN TANNEHILL
REGGIE BUSH
DAVONE BESS
ANTHONY FASANO
DAN CARPENTER

MATT MOORE
DANIEL THOMAS
BRIAN HARTLINE
MICHAEL EGNEW

DAVID GARRARD
LAMAR MILLER
LEGEDU NAANEE
JERON MASTRUD

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

CHRISTIAN PONDER
ADRIAN PETERSON
PERCY HARVIN
KYLE RUDOLPH
BLAIR WALSH

JOE WEBB
TOBY GERHART
JEROME SIMPSON
JOHN CARLSON

SAGE ROSENFELS
LEX HILLIARD
MICHAEL JENKINS
MICKEY SHULER

TOM BRADY
SHANE VEREEN
WES WELKER
ROB GRONKOWSKI
STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI

BRIAN HOYER
STEVAN RIDLEY
BRANDON LLOYD
AARON HERNANDEZ

RYAN MALLETT
DANNY WOODHEAD
DEION BRANCH
DANIEL FELLS

DREW BREES
MARK INGRAM
MARQUES COLSTON
JIMMY GRAHAM
GARRETT HARTLEY

CHASE DANIEL
PIERRE THOMAS
DEVERY HENDERSON
DAVID THOMAS

SEAN CANFIELD
DARREN SPROLES
LANCE MOORE
MICHAEL HIGGINS

ELI MANNING
AHMAD BRADSHAW
HAKEEM NICKS
MARTELLUS BENNETT
LAWRENCE TYNES

DAVID CARR
DAVID WILSON
VICTOR CRUZ
JAKE BALLARD

RYAN PERRILOUX
D.J. WARE
RUEBEN RANDLE
TRAVIS BECKUM

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

MARK SANCHEZ
SHONN GREENE
SANTONIO HOLMES
DUSTIN KELLER
NICK FOLK

TIM TEBOW
JOE MCKNIGHT
CHAZ SCHILENS
JEFF CUMBERLAND

GREG MCELROY
BILAL POWELL
STEPHEN HILL
DEDRICK EPPS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

CARSON PALMER
DARREN MCFADDEN
DARRIUS HEYWARD-BEY
BRANDON MYERS
SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI

MATT LEINART
MIKE GOODSON
JACOBY FORD
RICHARD GORDON

TERRELLE PRYOR
TAIWAN JONES
DENARIUS MOORE
DAVID AUSBERRY

MICHAEL VICK
LESEAN MCCOY
JEREMY MACLIN
BRENT CELEK
ALEX HENERY

MIKE KAFKA
DION LEWIS
DESEAN JACKSON
CLAY HARBOR

NICK FOLES
BRYCE BROWN
JASON AVANT
BRETT BRACKETT

M IAMI

MINNESOTA

NEW ENGLAND
QB
RB
WR
TE
K

NEW ORLEANS
QB
RB
WR
TE
K

NEW YORK GIANTS
QB
RB
WR
TE
K

NEW YORK JETS

OAKLAND

PHILADELPHIA
QB
RB
WR
TE
K

54

TEAM DEPTH CHAR TS (cont...)

T EAM
TEAM

POS FIRST TEAM
P OS

SECOND TEAM

THIRD TEAM

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

BEN ROETHLISBERGER
ISAAC REDMAN
MIKE WALLACE
HEATH MILLER
SHAUN SUISHAM

CHARLIE BATCH
RASHARD MENDENHALL
ANTONIO BROWN
LEONARD POPE

TROY SMITH
JONATHAN DWYER
EMMANUEL SANDERS
WESLYE SAUNDERS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

PHILIP RIVERS
RYAN MATHEWS
MALCOM FLOYD
ANTONIO GATES
NATE KAEDING

CHARLIE WHITEHURST
RONNIE BROWN
ROBERT MEACHEM
RANDY MCMICHAEL

JARETT LEE
CURTIS BRINKLEY
EDDIE ROYAL
LADARIUS GREEN

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

RUSSELL WILSON
MARSHAWN LYNCH
SIDNEY RICE
KELLEN WINSLOW
STEVEN HAUSCHKA

MATT FLYNN
ROBERT TURBIN
GOLDEN TATE
ZACH MILLER

TARVARIS JACKSON
LEON WASHINGTON
DOUG BALDWIN
ANTHONY MCCOY

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

ALEX SMITH
FRANK GORE
MICHAEL CRABTREE
VERNON DAVIS
DAVID AKERS

JOSH JOHNSON
KENDALL HUNTER
MARIO MANNINGHAM
DELANIE WALKER

COLIN KAEPERNICK
BRANDON JACOBS
RANDY MOSS
NATE BYHAM

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

SAM BRADFORD
STEVEN JACKSON
BRANDON GIBSON
LANCE KENDRICKS
GREG ZUERLEIN

KELLEN CLEMENS
ISAIAH PEAD
DANNY AMENDOLA
MICHAEL HOOMANAWANUI

TOM BRANDSTATER
CHASE REYNOLDS
BRIAN QUICK
MATTHEW MULLIGAN

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

JOSH FREEMAN
DOUG MARTIN
VINCENT JACKSON
DALLAS CLARK
CONNOR BARTH

DAN ORLOVSKY
LEGARRETTE BLOUNT
MIKE WILLIAMS
LUKE STOCKER

BRETT RATLIFF
MICHAEL SMITH
ARRELIOUS BENN
ZACH PIANALTO

QB
RB
WR
TE
K

JAKE LOCKER
CHRIS JOHNSON
KENNY BRITT
JARED COOK
ROB BIRONAS

MATT HASSELBECK
JAVON RINGER
NATE WASHINGTON
CRAIG STEVENS

RUSTY SMITH
JAMIE HARPER
KENDALL WRIGHT
DANIEL GRAHAM

ROBERT GRIFFIN
ROY HELU
PIERRE GARCON
FRED DAVIS
NEIL RACKERS

REX GROSSMAN
EVAN ROYSTER
SANTANA MOSS
CHRIS COOLEY

KIRK COUSINS
TIM HIGHTOWER
JOSH MORGAN
LOGAN PAULSEN

P ITTSBURGH

SAN DIEGO

SEATTLE

SAN FRANCISCO

ST. LOUIS

TAMPA BAY

TENNESSEE

WASHINGTON
QB
RB
WR
TE
K

55

TEAM PASS/RUN DISTRIBUTION
LEAGUE LEADERS IN RED
TEAM RUSH
T EAM

YDS

20+

40+

AVG

TD

REC

YDS

20+

40+

AVG

TD

TAR

YPT

ARZ

389

1625

9

2

4.2

12

307

3954

64

16

12.9

21

541

7.3

ATL

453

1834

11

4

4.0

14

365

4365

58

10

12.0

29

583

7.5

BAL

459

1996

9

5

4.3

15

314

3629

49

7

11.6

21

541

6.7

BUF

391

1921

18

4

4.9

12

356

3857

48

8

10.8

24

569

6.8

CAR

445

2408

22

2

5.4

26

312

4089

45

6

13.1

21

512

8.0

CHI

456

2015

16

4

4.4

10

268

3346

46

10

12.5

18

466

7.2

CIN

455

1778

9

2

3.9

10

308

3507

54

13

11.4

21

523

6.7

CLE

415

1531

5

2

3.7

4

321

3304

40

6

10.3

16

564

5.9

DAL

408

1807

16

4

4.4

5

376

4453

32

3

11.8

33

562

7.9

DEN

546

2632

17

1

4.8

11

217

2708

46

9

12.5

20

425

6.4

DET

356

1523

6

3

4.3

9

423

5071

70

17

12.0

41

658

7.7

GB
GB

396

1564

9

3

3.9

12

376

5161

78

18

13.7

51

540

9.6

HOU

546

2448

14

4

4.5

18

288

3696

48

7

12.8

20

457

8.1

IND

382

1594

7

2

4.2

8

302

3223

43

7

10.7

14

525

6.1

JAC

489

1970

10

3

4.0

9

240

2510

34

6

10.5

12

467

5.4

KC

487

1893

13

0

3.9

5

299

3288

49

9

11.0

13

496

6.6

MIA

469

1987

10

1

4.2

11

280

3425

56

9

12.2

20

466

7.3

MIN

448

2318

18

5

5.2

18

286

3255

32

6

11.4

20

506

6.4

NE

438

1764

8

0

4.0

18

402

5257

81

16

13.1

39

609

8.6

NO
NO

431

2127

14

0

4.9

16

472

5505

66

11

11.7

46

657

8.4

NYG

411

1427

4

0

3.5

17

359

4933

74

18

13.7

29

584

8.4

NYJ

443

1692

8

0

3.8

14

310

3542

45

3

11.4

26

541

6.5

OAK

466

2110

21

6

4.5

16

315

4119

77

13

13.1

20

519

7.9

PHI

450

2276

16

3

5.1

20

330

4276

70

11

13.0

22

542

7.9

PIT

434

1903

9

3

4.4

13

342

4342

48

9

12.7

21

538

8.1

SD
SD

436

1864

13

2

4.3

16

366

4624

54

6

12.6

27

567

8.2

SEA

444

1756

10

4

4.0

15

299

3444

56

9

11.5

15

501

6.9

SF
SF

498

2044

16

4

4.1

14

277

3193

48

5

11.5

18

449

7.1

STL

409

1667

7

2

4.1

7

292

3258

24

2

11.2

9

549

5.9

TB
TB

346

1458

9

2

4.2

9

365

3838

35

6

10.5

17

580

6.6

TEN

376

1438

13

1

3.8

8

353

4113

60

16

11.7

22

581

7.1

WAS

400

1614

9

1

4.0

8

346

4058

52

6

11.7

19

581

7.0

56

RED ZONE PASS/RUN DISTRIBUTION
LEAGUE LEADERS IN RED
TEAM

RZ TAR

INSIDE 10

INSIDE 5

RZ RUSH

INSIDE 10

INSIDE 5

ARI

53

22

8

45

23

14

ATL

89

32

11

87

47

29

BAL

71

33

12

58

36

20

BUF

82

37

13

55

28

11

CAR

55

20

7

63

35

23

CHI

43

23

8

47

26

13

CIN

72

36

13

81

39

21

CLE

43

23

11

33

21

11

DAL

49

27

12

58

27

11

DEN

57

23

5

41

17

8

DET

94

35

12

45

26

13

GB
GB

90

43

18

64

30

13

HOU

76

39

14

110

45

21

IND

73

31

16

46

21

6

JAC

66

31

19

55

28

16

KC
KC

51

22

12

50

22

11

MIA

72

27

14

66

30

17

MIN

61

24

11

74

35

19

NE
NE

99
99

50

22

105

62

38

NO
NO

94

39

16

76

29

12

NYG

74

34

18

66

34

16

NYJ

79

37

17

66

27

16

OAK

69

26

9

74

37

19

PHI

65

28

12

91

52

32

PIT

52

15

7

68

42

22

SD

49

26

14

64

37

24

SEA

56

23

5

56

29

16

SF
SF

62

21

10

84

42

26

STL

35

12

5

37

18

14

TB
TB

55

16

5

31

12

5

TEN

64

28

13

33

12

7

WAS

67

26

7

61

28

10

57

QUARTERBACK STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES
NAME

YEAR

ATT

PYD YPA

TD

INT

RYD RTD

Sam Bradford
Sam Bradford

3 Yr Avg
2011

473
357

2838
2164

6.00
6.06

12
6

10
6

44
26

0
0

Tom Brady
Tom Brady

3 Yr Avg
2011

556
611

4511
5235

8.11
8.57

34
39

9
12

61
109

1
3

Drew Brees
Drew Brees

3 Yr Avg
2011

609
657

4828
5476

7.93
8.33

37
46

15
14

38
86

1
1

Jason Campbell
Jason Campbell

3 Yr Avg
2011

333
165

2391
1170

7.18
7.09

13
6

9
4

172
60

1
2

Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel

3 Yr Avg
2011

404
269

2584
1713

6.40
6.37

17
10

10
9

137
99

0
0

Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler

3 Yr Avg
2011

433
314

3086
2319

7.13
7.39

21
13

16
7

153
55

1
1

Andy Dalton
Andy Dalton

3 Yr Avg
2011

516
516

3398
3398

6.59
6.59

20
20

13
13

152
152

1
1

Ryan Fitzpatrick
Ryan Fitzpatrick

3 Yr Avg
2011

412
569

2751
3832

6.68
6.73

18
24

16
23

208
215

0
0

Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco

3 Yr Avg
2011

510
542

3615
3610

7.09
6.66

22
20

11
12

76
88

0
1

Matt Flynn
Matt Flynn

3 Yr Avg
2011

42
49

336
518

8.00
10.57

3
6

1
2

5
-6

0
1

Josh Freeman
Josh Freeman

3 Yr Avg
2011

438
551

2966
3592

6.77
6.52

17
16

15
22

254
238

1
4

Blaine Gabbert
Blaine Gabbert

3 Yr Avg
2011

413
413

2214
2214

5.36
5.36

12
12

11
11

98
98

0
0

David Garrard

3 Yr Avg

441

3165

7.18

19

12

301

4

Rex Grossman
Rex Grossman

3 Yr Avg
2011

200
458

1356
3151

6.78
6.88

7
16

8
20

8
11

0
1

Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck

3 Yr Avg
2011

483
518

3200
3571

6.63
6.89

15
18

16
14

77
52

1
0

Chad Henne
Chad Henne

3 Yr Avg
2011

351
112

2349
868

6.69
7.75

10
4

12
4

65
112

0
1

Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill

3 Yr Avg
2011

191
3

1220
33

6.39
11.00

7
0

4
0

64
-1

0
0

Brian Hoyer
Brian Hoyer

3 Yr Avg
2011

14
1

95
22

6.79
22.00

0
0

0
0

4
-3

0
0

Tarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris Jackson

3 Yr Avg
2011

176
450

1211
3091

6.88
6.87

6
14

5
13

53
108

0
1

Colin Kaepernick
Colin Kaepernick

3 Yr Avg
2011

5
5

35
35

7.00
7.00

0
0

0
0

-2
-2

0
0

Mike Kafka
Mike Kafka

3 Yr Avg
2011

16
16

107
107

6.69
6.69

0
0

2
2

0
0

0
0

Kevin Kolb
Kevin Kolb

3 Yr Avg
2011

179
253

1297
1955

7.25
7.73

6
9

6
8

44
65

0
0

Byron Leftwich

3 Yr Avg

57

318

5.58

2

1

3

0

Jake Locker
Jake Locker

3 Yr Avg
2011

66
66

542
542

8.21
8.21

4
4

0
0

56
56

1
1

Eli Manning
Eli Manning

3 Yr Avg
2011

545
589

4318
4933

7.92
8.38

29
29

18
16

50
15

0
1

Peyton Manning

3 Yr Avg

625

4600

7.36

33

16

2

0

Colt McCoy
Colt McCoy

3 Yr Avg
2011

342
463

2154
2733

6.30
5.90

10
14

10
11

174
212

0
0

Matt Moore
Matt Moore

3 Yr Avg
2011

209
347

1469
2497

7.03
7.20

9
16

7
9

29
65

0
2

Cam Newton
Cam Newton

3 Yr Avg
2011

517
517

4051
4051

7.84
7.84

21
21

17
17

706
706

14
14

58

QUAR TERBACK STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)

NAME

YEAR

ATT

PYD YPA

TD

INT

RYD RTD

Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton

3 Yr Avg
2011
2011

430
155
97

3071
979
779

7.14
6.32
8.03

16
8
1

10
7
2

60
17
-4

0
0
0

Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer

3 Yr Avg
2011

460
328

3272
2753

7.11
8.39

20
13

16
16

54
20

1
1

Christian Ponder
Christian Ponder

3 Yr Avg
2011

291
291

1853
1853

6.37
6.37

13
13

13
13

219
219

0
0

Brady Quinn

3 Yr Avg

256

1339

5.23

8

7

98

1

Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers

3 Yr Avg
2011

536
582

4529
4624

8.45
7.95

28
27

14
20

46
36

0
1

Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers

3 Yr Avg
2011

506
502

4333
4643

8.56
9.25

34
45

8
6

309
257

4
3

Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger

3 Yr Avg
2011

469
513

3868
4077

8.25
7.95

21
21

10
14

109
70

1
0

Tony Romo
Tony Romo

3 Yr Avg
2011

428
522

3424
4184

8.00
8.02

22
31

8
10

63
46

0
1

Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan

3 Yr Avg
2011

529
566

3599
4177

6.80
7.38

26
29

11
12

85
84

1
2

Mark Sanchez
Mark Sanchez

3 Yr Avg
2011

471
543

3069
3474

6.52
6.40

18
26

17
18

104
103

4
6

Matt Schaub
Matt Schaub

3 Yr Avg
2011

483
292

3873
2479

8.02
8.49

22
15

11
6

31
9

0
2

John Skelton
John Skelton

3 Yr Avg
2011

200
275

1287
1913

6.43
6.96

6
11

8
14

88
128

0
0

Alex Smith
Alex Smith

3 Yr Avg
2011

386
445

2621
3144

6.79
7.07

16
17

9
5

96
179

0
2

Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford

3 Yr Avg
2011

378
663

2613
5038

6.91
7.60

20
41

12
16

65
78

1
0

Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow

3 Yr Avg
2011

176
271

1191
1729

6.77
6.38

8
12

4
6

443
660

6
6

Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen

3 Yr Avg
2011

26
8

181
25

6.96
3.13

1
0

1
1

27
8

0
0

Michael Vick
Michael Vick

3 Yr Avg
2011

269
423

2135
3303

7.94
7.81

13
18

6
14

453
589

4
1

Joe Webb
Joe Webb

3 Yr Avg
2011

76
63

426
376

5.61
5.97

1
3

2
2

137
154

2
2

T.J. Yates
T.J. Yates

3 Yr Avg
2011

134
134

949
949

7.08
7.08

3
3

3
3

57
57

0
0

Vince Young
Vince Young

3 Yr Avg
2011

176
114

1333
866

7.57
7.60

8
4

6
9

161
79

0
0

59

RUNNING BACK STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES
NAME

YEAR

ATT

RYD RTD

AVG

REC

RCYD AVG RCTD

Joseph Addai
Joseph Addai

3 Yr Avg
2011

151
118

585
433

5
1

3.87
3.67

28
15

184
93

6.57
6.20

1
0

Jackie Battle
Jackie Battle

3 Yr Avg
2011

58
149

222
597

1
2

3.83
4.01

4
9

24
68

6.00
7.56

0
0

Kahlil Bell
Kahlil Bell

3 Yr Avg
2011

59
79

278
337

0
0

4.71
4.27

10
19

68
133

6.80
7.00

0
1

Cedric Benson
Cedric Benson

3 Yr Avg
2011

298
273

1143
1067

6
6

3.84
3.91

20
15

123
82

6.15
5.47

0
0

Jahvid Best
Jahvid Best

3 Yr Avg
2011

127
84

472
390

3
2

3.72
4.64

42
27

387
287

9.21
10.63

1
1

LeGarrette Blount
LeGarrette Blount

3 Yr Avg
2011

192
184

894
781

5
5

4.66
4.24

10
15

81
148

8.10
9.87

0
0

Ahmad Bradshaw
Ahmad Bradshaw

3 Yr Avg
2011

203
171

890
659

8
9

4.38
3.85

34
34

262
267

7.71
7.85

0
2

Curtis Brinkley
Curtis Brinkley

3 Yr Avg
2011

16
30

56
101

0
1

3.50
3.37

3
7

20
41

6.67
5.86

0
0

Donald Brown
Donald Brown

3 Yr Avg
2011

113
134

474
645

3
5

4.19
4.81

15
16

153
86

10.20
5.38

0
0

Michael Bush
Michael Bush

3 Yr Avg
2011

179
256

740
977

6
7

4.13
3.82

24
37

239
418

9.96
11.30

0
1

Reggie Bush
Reggie Bush

3 Yr Avg
2011

107
216

542
1086

3
6

5.07
5.03

41
43

279
296

6.80
6.88

1
1

Delone Carter
Delone Carter

3 Yr Avg
2011

101
101

377
377

2
2

3.73
3.73

5
5

18
18

3.60
3.60

0
0

Rock Cartwright
Rock Cartwright

3 Yr Avg
2011

25
4

98
45

0
0

3.92
11.25

10
4

92
24

9.20
6.00

0
0

Jamaal Charles
Jamaal Charles

3 Yr Avg
2011

144
12

890
83

4
0

6.18
6.92

30
5

258
9

8.60
1.80

1
1

Tashard Choice
Tashard Choice
Tashard Choice
Tashard Choice

3 Yr Avg
2011
2011
2011

62
23
28
6

248
70
75
7

2
1
0
0

4.00
3.04
2.68
1.17

17
7
11
1

121
51
71
2

7.12
7.29
6.45
2.00

0
0
0
0

Anthony Dixon
Anthony Dixon

3 Yr Avg
2011

49
29

162
87

2
2

3.31
3.00

3
1

8
6

2.67
6.00

0
0

Jonathan Dwyer
Jonathan Dwyer

3 Yr Avg
2011

12
16

75
123

0
0

6.25
7.69

0
1

3
6

0.00
6.00

0
0

Matt Forte
Matt Forte

3 Yr Avg
2011

232
203

998
997

4
3

4.30
4.91

53
52

502
490

9.47
9.42

1
1

Arian Foster
Arian Foster

3 Yr Avg
2011

219
278

1032
1224

9
10

4.71
4.40

42
53

438
617

10.43
11.64

1
2

Toby Gerhart
Toby Gerhart

3 Yr Avg
2011

95
109

426
531

1
1

4.48
4.87

22
23

178
190

8.09
8.26

1
3

Mike Goodson
Mike Goodson

3 Yr Avg
2011

41
0

167
0

1
0

4.07
0.00

14
1

109
4

7.79
4.00

0
0

Frank Gore
Frank Gore

3 Yr Avg
2011

238
282

1061
1211

7
8

4.46
4.29

38
17

324
114

8.53
6.71

1
0

Earnest Graham
Earnest Graham

3 Yr Avg
2011

23
37

123
206

0
0

5.35
5.57

18
26

134
163

7.44
6.27

0
0

Ryan Grant
Ryan Grant

3 Yr Avg
2011

141
134

619
559

4
2

4.39
4.17

14
19

155
268

11.07
14.11

0
1

Alex Green
Alex Green

3 Yr Avg
2011

3
3

11
11

0
0

3.67
3.67

1
1

6
6

6.00
6.00

0
0

BenJarvus Green-Ellis
BenJarvus Green-Ellis

3 Yr Avg
2011

145
181

596
667

8
11

4.11
3.69

7
9

85
159

12.14
17.67

0
0

Shonn Greene
Shonn Greene

3 Yr Avg
2011

182
253

786
1054

3
6

4.32
4.17

15
30

110
211

7.33
7.03

0
0

60

RUNNING BACK STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
R UNNING

NAME

YEAR

ATT

RYD RTD

AVG

REC

RCYD AVG RCTD

Montario Hardesty
Montario Hardesty

3 Yr Avg
2011

88
88

266
266

0
0

3.02
3.02

14
14

122
122

8.71
8.71

0
0

Jamie Harper
Jamie Harper

3 Yr Avg
2011

17
17

44
44

1
1

2.59
2.59

4
4

32
32

8.00
8.00

0
0

Roy Helu
Roy Helu

3 Yr Avg
2011

151
151

640
640

2
2

4.24
4.24

49
49

379
379

7.73
7.73

1
1

Tim Hightower
Tim Hightower

3 Yr Avg
2011

126
84

551
321

4
1

4.37
3.82

31
10

214
78

6.90
7.80

0
1

Peyton Hillis
Peyton Hillis

3 Yr Avg
2011

148
161

606
587

5
3

4.09
3.65

29
22

208
130

7.17
5.91

0
0

Kendall Hunter
Kendall Hunter

3 Yr Avg
2011

112
112

473
473

2
2

4.22
4.22

16
16

195
195

12.19
12.19

0
0

Mark Ingram
Mark Ingram

3 Yr Avg
2011

122
122

474
474

5
5

3.89
3.89

11
11

46
46

4.18
4.18

0
0

Chris Ivory
Chris Ivory

3 Yr Avg
2011

108
79

545
374

3
1

5.05
4.73

0
0

8
0

0.00
0.00

0
0

Brandon Jackson

3 Yr Avg

113

407

2

3.60

32

264

8.25

1

Fred Jackson
Fred Jackson

3 Yr Avg
2011

209
170

974
934

4
6

4.66
5.49

38
39

342
442

9.00
11.33

1
0

Steven Jackson
Steven Jackson

3 Yr Avg
2011

304
260

1267
1145

5
5

4.17
4.40

46
42

346
333

7.52
7.93

0
1

Brandon Jacobs
Brandon Jacobs

3 Yr Avg
2011

174
152

743
571

7
7

4.27
3.76

13
15

123
128

9.46
8.53

0
1

Rashad Jennings

3 Yr Avg

61

330

2

5.41

21

162

7.71

0

Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson

3 Yr Avg
2011

312
262

1472
1047

9
4

4.72
4.00

50
57

388
418

7.76
7.33

1
0

Felix Jones
Felix Jones

3 Yr Avg
2011

142
127

686
575

1
1

4.83
4.53

33
33

263
221

7.97
6.70

0
0

Taiwan Jones
Taiwan Jones

3 Yr Avg
2011

16
16

73
73

0
0

4.56
4.56

2
2

25
25

12.50
12.50

0
0

Thomas Jones
Thomas Jones

3 Yr Avg
2011

243
153

925
478

6
0

3.81
3.12

9
5

74
43

8.22
8.60

0
0

Maurice Jones-Drew
Maurice Jones-Drew

3 Yr Avg
2011

318
343

1440
1606

9
8

4.53
4.68

43
43

355
374

8.26
8.70

2
3

John Kuhn
John Kuhn

3 Yr Avg
2011

40
30

125
78

3
4

3.13
2.60

12
15

73
77

6.08
5.13

2
2

Brian Leonard
Brian Leonard

3 Yr Avg
2011

17
17

76
85

0
0

4.47
5.00

24
22

188
210

7.83
9.55

0
0

Dion Lewis
Dion Lewis

3 Yr Avg
2011

23
23

102
102

1
1

4.43
4.43

1
1

-3
-3

-3.00
-3.00

0
0

Marshawn Lynch
Marshawn Lynch

3 Yr Avg
2011

202
285

797
1204

6
12

3.95
4.22

26
28

178
212

6.85
7.57

0
1

Ryan Mathews
Ryan Mathews

3 Yr Avg
2011

190
222

884
1091

6
6

4.65
4.91

36
50

300
455

8.33
9.10

0
0

Le’Ron McClain
Le’Ron McClain

3 Yr Avg
2011

29
15

105
51

1
1

3.62
3.40

18
14

119
82

6.61
5.86

0
1

Dexter McCluster
Dexter McCluster

3 Yr Avg
2011

66
114

293
516

0
1

4.44
4.53

33
46

268
328

8.12
7.13

1
1

LeSean McCoy
LeSean McCoy

3 Yr Avg
2011

211
273

1008
1309

9
17

4.78
4.79

55
48

405
315

7.36
6.56

1
3

Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden

3 Yr Avg
2011

146
113

709
614

4
4

4.86
5.43

29
19

302
154

10.41
8.11

1
1

Willis McGahee
Willis McGahee

3 Yr Avg
2011

152
249

707
1199

7
4

4.65
4.82

13
12

63
51

4.85
4.25

1
1

Joe McKnight
Joe McKnight

3 Yr Avg
2011

41
43

161
134

0
0

3.93
3.12

8
13

79
139

9.88
10.69

0
0
61

RUNNING BACK STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
R UNNING

NAME

YEAR

ATT

RYD RTD

AVG

REC

RCYD AVG RCTD

Rashard Mendenhall
Rashard Mendenhall

3 Yr Avg
2011

264
228

1103
928

9
9

4.18
4.07

22
18

194
154

8.82
8.56

0
0

Mewelde Moore
Mewelde Moore

3 Yr Avg
2011

30
22

124
157

0
0

4.13
7.14

19
11

154
104

8.11
9.45

1
1

Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Moreno

3 Yr Avg
2011

155
37

635
179

4
0

4.10
4.84

25
11

228
101

9.12
9.18

2
1

DeMarco Murray
DeMarco Murray

3 Yr Avg
2011

164
164

897
897

2
2

5.47
5.47

26
26

183
183

7.04
7.04

0
0

Jerious Norwood
Jerious Norwood

3 Yr Avg
2011

34
24

107
61

0
0

3.15
2.54

6
0

65
0

10.83
0.00

0
0

Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson

3 Yr Avg
2011

268
208

1217
970

14
12

4.54
4.66

32
18

305
139

9.53
7.72

0
1

Bilal Powell
Bilal Powell

3 Yr Avg
2011

13
13

21
21

0
0

1.62
1.62

1
1

7
7

7.00
7.00

0
0

Isaac Redman
Isaac Redman

3 Yr Avg
2011

54
110

242
479

1
3

4.48
4.35

9
18

50
78

5.56
4.33

0
0

Ray Rice
Ray Rice

3 Yr Avg
2011

284
291

1307
1364

8
12

4.60
4.69

72
76

654
704

9.08
9.26

1
3

Stevan Ridley
Stevan Ridley

3 Yr Avg
2011

87
87

441
441

1
1

5.07
5.07

3
3

13
13

4.33
4.33

0
0

Javon Ringer
Javon Ringer

3 Yr Avg
2011

39
59

157
185

1
1

4.03
3.14

11
28

77
187

7.00
6.68

0
0

Jacquizz Rodgers
Jacquizz Rodgers

3 Yr Avg
2011

57
57

205
205

1
1

3.60
3.60

21
21

188
188

8.95
8.95

1
1

Evan Royster
Evan Royster

3 Yr Avg
2011

56
56

328
328

0
0

5.86
5.86

9
9

68
68

7.56
7.56

0
0

Brandon Saine
Brandon Saine

3 Yr Avg
2011

18
18

69
69

0
0

3.83
3.83

10
10

69
69

6.90
6.90

0
0

Bernard Scott
Bernard Scott

3 Yr Avg
2011

82
112

333
380

1
3

4.06
3.39

9
13

55
38

6.11
2.92

0
0

Steve Slaton
Steve Slaton
Steve Slaton

3 Yr Avg
2011
2011

58
7
17

204
20
64

1
0
1

3.52
2.86
3.76

16
1
2

143
6
-3

8.94
6.00
-1.50

1
0
0

Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith

3 Yr Avg
2011

107
72

412
356

2
4

3.85
4.94

24
22

239
179

9.96
8.14

1
3

Jason Snelling
Jason Snelling

3 Yr Avg
2011

91
44

362
151

2
0

3.98
3.43

33
26

247
179

7.48
6.88

1
1

C.J. Spiller
C.J. Spiller

3 Yr Avg
2011

90
107

422
561

2
4

4.69
5.24

31
39

213
269

6.87
6.90

1
2

Darren Sproles
Darren Sproles

3 Yr Avg
2011

76
87

404
603

1
2

5.32
6.93

63
86

575
710

9.13
8.26

4
7

James Starks
James Starks

3 Yr Avg
2011

81
133

339
578

0
1

4.19
4.35

15
29

115
216

7.67
7.45

0
0

LaRod Stephens-Howling
LaRod Stephens-Howling

3 Yr Avg
2011

24
43

98
167

0
0

4.08
3.88

13
13

142
234

10.92
18.00

1
2

Jonathan Stewart
Jonathan Stewart

3 Yr Avg
2011

180
142

888
761

5
4

4.93
5.36

24
47

218
413

9.08
8.79

1
1

Ben Tate
Ben Tate

3 Yr Avg
2011

175
175

942
942

4
4

5.38
5.38

13
13

98
98

7.54
7.54

0
0

Daniel Thomas
Daniel Thomas

3 Yr Avg
2011

165
165

581
581

0
0

3.52
3.52

12
12

72
72

6.00
6.00

1
1

Pierre Thomas
Pierre Thomas

3 Yr Avg
2011

113
110

541
562

4
5

4.79
5.11

39
50

309
425

7.92
8.50

1
1

Mike Tolbert
Mike Tolbert

3 Yr Avg
2011

109
121

457
490

6
8

4.19
4.05

32
54

280
433

8.75
8.02

1
2

Ryan Torain
Ryan Torain

3 Yr Avg
2011

111
59

471
200

2
1

4.24
3.39

12
6

74
23

6.17
3.83

1
0
62

RUNNING BACK STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
R UNNING

NAME

YEAR

ATT

RYD RTD

AVG

REC

RCYD AVG RCTD

Michael Turner
Michael Turner

3 Yr Avg
2011

271
301

1194
1340

11
11

4.41
4.45

11
17

96
168

8.73
9.88

0
0

Shane Vereen
Shane Vereen

3 Yr Avg
2011

15
15

57
57

1
1

3.80
3.80

0
0

0
0

0.00
0.00

0
0

Derrick Ward
Derrick Ward

3 Yr Avg
2011

69
45

292
154

2
2

4.23
3.42

9
0

70
0

7.78
0.00

0
0

D.J. Ware
D.J. Ware

3 Yr Avg
2011

26
46

103
163

0
0

3.96
3.54

12
27

84
170

7.00
6.30

0
0

Leon Washington
Leon Washington

3 Yr Avg
2011

50
53

226
248

0
1

4.52
4.68

11
10

86
48

7.82
4.80

0
0

Beanie Wells
Beanie Wells

3 Yr Avg
2011

179
245

745
1047

6
10

4.16
4.27

9
10

89
52

9.89
5.20

0
0

Cadillac Williams
Cadillac Williams

3 Yr Avg
2011

140
87

539
361

2
1

3.85
4.15

29
14

222
93

7.66
6.64

1
0

DeAngelo Williams
DeAngelo Williams

3 Yr Avg
2011

152
155

771
836

5
7

5.07
5.39

18
16

149
135

8.28
8.44

0
0

Danny Woodhead
Danny Woodhead

3 Yr Avg
2011

63
77

320
351

2
1

5.08
4.56

20
18

207
157

10.35
8.72

0
0

63

WIDE RECEIVER STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES
NAME

YEAR

REC

YDS AVG

TD TARGETS

Danario Alexander
Danario Alexander

3 Yr Avg
2011

23
26

368
431

16.00
16.58

1
2

48
60

Danny Amendola
Danny Amendola

3 Yr Avg
2011

44
5

353
45

8.02
9.00

1
0

43
6

Devin Aromashodu
Devin Aromashodu

3 Yr Avg
2011

20
26

305
468

15.25
18.00

1
1

50
84

Adrian Arrington
Adrian Arrington

3 Yr Avg
2011

4
2

55
31

13.75
15.50

0
0

6
3

Miles Austin
Miles Austin

3 Yr Avg
2011

64
43

980
579

15.31
13.47

8
7

105
73

Jason Avant
Jason Avant

3 Yr Avg
2011

48
52

613
679

12.77
13.06

1
1

70
81

Donnie Avery
Donnie Avery

3 Yr Avg
2011

25
3

317
45

12.68
15.00

3
1

54
11

Doug Baldwin
Doug Baldwin

3 Yr Avg
2011

51
51

788
788

15.45
15.45

4
4

87
87

Jon Baldwin
Jon Baldwin

3 Yr Avg
2011

21
21

254
254

12.10
12.10

1
1

53
53

Ramses Barden
Ramses Barden

3 Yr Avg
2011

5
9

58
94

11.60
10.44

0
0

8
19

Arrelious Benn
Arrelious Benn

3 Yr Avg
2011

27
30

418
441

15.48
14.70

2
3

44
51

Earl Bennett
Earl Bennett

3 Yr Avg
2011

41
24

553
381

13.49
15.88

2
1

67
43

Davone Bess
Davone Bess

3 Yr Avg
2011

68
51

705
537

10.37
10.53

3
3

108
86

Anquan Boldin
Anquan Boldin

3 Yr Avg
2011

68
57

916
887

13.47
15.56

4
3

114
106

Dwayne Bowe
Dwayne Bowe

3 Yr Avg
2011

66
81

970
1159

14.70
14.31

8
5

120
141

Deion Branch
Deion Branch

3 Yr Avg
2011

52
51

652
702

12.54
13.76

4
5

88
90

Steve Breaston
Steve Breaston

3 Yr Avg
2011

54
61

738
785

13.67
12.87

2
2

92
98

Dezmon Briscoe
Dezmon Briscoe

3 Yr Avg
2011

20
35

240
387

12.00
11.06

3
6

29
51

Kenny Britt
Kenny Britt

3 Yr Avg
2011

33
17

588
289

17.82
17.00

5
3

56
26

Antonio Brown
Antonio Brown

3 Yr Avg
2011

42
69

637
1108

15.17
16.06

1
2

71
124

Vincent Brown
Vincent Brown

3 Yr Avg
2011

19
19

329
329

17.32
17.32

2
2

40
40

Dez Bryant
Dez Bryant

3 Yr Avg
2011

54
63

744
928

13.78
14.73

7
9

87
103

Nate Burleson
Nate Burleson

3 Yr Avg
2011

63
73

731
757

11.60
10.37

4
3

99
110

Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Burress

3 Yr Avg
2011

45
45

612
612

13.60
13.60

8
8

96
96

Andre Caldwell
Andre Caldwell

3 Yr Avg
2011

37
37

364
317

9.84
8.57

2
3

61
68

Randall Cobb
Randall Cobb

3 Yr Avg
2011

25
25

375
375

15.00
15.00

1
1

31
31

Austin Collie
Austin Collie

3 Yr Avg
2011

57
54

613
514

10.75
9.52

5
1

86
97

Marques Colston
Marques Colston

3 Yr Avg
2011

78
80

1080
1143

13.85
14.29

8
8

115
107

64

WIDE RECEIVER STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
W IDE

NAME

YEAR

REC

YDS AVG

TD TARGETS

Riley Cooper
Riley Cooper

3 Yr Avg
2011

11
16

215
315

19.55
19.69

1
1

26
35

Jerricho Cotchery
Jerricho Cotchery

3 Yr Avg
2011

38
16

497
237

13.08
14.81

2
2

71
30

Michael Crabtree
Michael Crabtree

3 Yr Avg
2011

58
72

746
874

12.86
12.14

4
4

100
114

Josh Cribbs
Josh Cribbs

3 Yr Avg
2011

28
41

315
518

11.25
12.63

2
4

47
67

Victor Cruz
Victor Cruz

3 Yr Avg
2011

41
82

768
1536

18.73
18.73

4
9

65
131

Eric Decker
Eric Decker

3 Yr Avg
2011

25
44

359
612

14.36
13.91

4
8

52
96

Early Doucet
Early Doucet

3 Yr Avg
2011

32
54

398
689

12.44
12.76

2
5

60
98

Harry Douglas
Harry Douglas

3 Yr Avg
2011

30
39

396
498

13.20
12.77

1
1

57
62

Donald Driver
Donald Driver

3 Yr Avg
2011

52
37

690
445

13.27
12.03

5
6

84
56

Braylon Edwards
Braylon Edwards

3 Yr Avg
2011

34
15

542
181

15.94
12.07

3
0

76
34

Lee Evans
Lee Evans

3 Yr Avg
2011

28
4

421
74

15.04
18.50

3
0

69
26

Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald

3 Yr Avg
2011

89
80

1213
1411

13.63
17.64

9
8

159
154

Malcom Floyd
Malcom Floyd

3 Yr Avg
2011

41
43

783
856

19.10
19.91

4
5

73
70

Jacoby Ford
Jacoby Ford

3 Yr Avg
2011

22
19

374
279

17.00
14.68

1
1

43
33

Jabar Gaffney
Jabar Gaffney

3 Yr Avg
2011

62
68

851
947

13.73
13.93

3
5

104
115

Pierre Garcon
Pierre Garcon

3 Yr Avg
2011

61
70

832
947

13.64
13.53

5
6

114
134

Clyde Gates
Clyde Gates

3 Yr Avg
2011

2
2

19
19

9.50
9.50

0
0

12
12

David Gettis

3 Yr Avg

37

508

13.73

3

67

Brandon Gibson
Brandon Gibson

3 Yr Avg
2011

41
36

466
431

11.37
11.97

1
1

73
71

Ted Ginn
Ted Ginn

3 Yr Avg
2011

23
19

279
220

12.13
11.58

0
0

48
33

Anthony Gonzalez
Anthony Gonzalez

3 Yr Avg
2011

1
0

22
0

22.00
0.00

0
0

3
2

A.J. Green
A.J. Green

3 Yr Avg
2011

65
65

1057
1057

16.26
16.26

7
7

115
115

Derek Hagan
Derek Hagan
Derek Hagan

3 Yr Avg
2011
2011

18
13
11

192
138
114

10.67
10.62
10.36

1
1
0

31
22
20

Leonard Hankerson
Leonard Hankerson

3 Yr Avg
2011

13
13

163
163

12.54
12.54

0
0

20
20

Brian Hartline
Brian Hartline

3 Yr Avg
2011

36
35

556
549

15.44
15.69

1
1

65
66

Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin

3 Yr Avg
2011

72
87

875
967

12.15
11.11

5
6

107
122

Lavelle Hawkins
Lavelle Hawkins

3 Yr Avg
2011

19
47

213
470

11.21
10.00

0
1

32
77

Devery Henderson
Devery Henderson

3 Yr Avg
2011

39
32

590
503

15.13
15.72

1
2

64
50
65

WIDE RECEIVER STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
W IDE

NAME

YEAR

REC

YDS AVG

TD TARGETS

Devin Hester
Devin Hester

3 Yr Avg
2011

41
26

533
369

13.00
14.19

2
1

73
56

Darrius Heyward-Bey
Darrius Heyward-Bey

3 Yr Avg
2011

33
64

488
975

14.79
15.23

2
4

73
115

Jason Hill
Jason Hill

3 Yr Avg
2011

15
25

235
367

15.67
14.68

2
3

31
55

Domenik Hixon
Domenik Hixon

3 Yr Avg
2011

9
4

118
50

13.11
12.50

1
1

17
6

Santonio Holmes
Santonio Holmes

3 Yr Avg
2011

60
51

882
654

14.70
12.82

6
8

111
101

DeSean Jackson
DeSean Jackson

3 Yr Avg
2011

56
58

1061
961

18.95
16.57

6
4

106
104

Vincent Jackson
Vincent Jackson

3 Yr Avg
2011

47
60

840
1106

17.87
18.43

7
9

79
115

Michael Jenkins
Michael Jenkins

3 Yr Avg
2011

43
38

535
466

12.44
12.26

2
3

73
55

Greg Jennings
Greg Jennings

3 Yr Avg
2011

70
67

1109
949

15.84
14.16

8
9

115
101

Jerrel Jernigan
Jerrel Jernigan

3 Yr Avg
2011

0
0

0
0

0.00
0.00

0
0

2
2

Andre Johnson
Andre Johnson

3 Yr Avg
2011

73
33

1092
492

14.96
14.91

6
2

120
51

Calvin Johnson
Calvin Johnson

3 Yr Avg
2011

80
96

1261
1681

15.76
17.51

11
16

144
158

Steve Johnson
Steve Johnson

3 Yr Avg
2011

53
76

695
1004

13.11
13.21

5
7

93
134

Donald Jones
Donald Jones

3 Yr Avg
2011

20
23

222
231

11.10
10.04

1
1

43
46

Jacoby Jones
Jacoby Jones

3 Yr Avg
2011

36
31

503
512

13.97
16.52

3
2

61
65

James Jones
James Jones

3 Yr Avg
2011

40
38

584
635

14.60
16.71

5
7

68
55

Julio Jones
Julio Jones

3 Yr Avg
2011

54
54

959
959

17.76
17.76

8
8

95
95

Jeremy Kerley
Jeremy Kerley

3 Yr Avg
2011

29
29

314
314

10.83
10.83

1
1

47
47

Brandon LaFell
Brandon LaFell

3 Yr Avg
2011

37
36

540
613

14.59
17.03

2
3

66
56

Greg Little
Greg Little

3 Yr Avg
2011

61
61

709
709

11.62
11.62

2
2

121
121

Brandon Lloyd
Brandon Lloyd
Brandon Lloyd

3 Yr Avg
2011
2011

51
19
51

843
283
683

16.53
14.89
13.39

5
0
5

100
31
117

Jeremy Maclin
Jeremy Maclin

3 Yr Avg
2011

62
63

861
859

13.89
13.63

6
5

102
97

Mario Manningham
Mario Manningham

3 Yr Avg
2011

52
39

763
523

14.67
13.41

6
4

89
77

Brandon Marshall
Brandon Marshall

3 Yr Avg
2011

89
81

1116
1214

12.54
14.99

6
6

146
141

Mohamed Massaquoi
Mohamed Massaquoi

3 Yr Avg
2011

33
31

497
384

15.06
12.39

2
2

81
74

Robert Meachem
Robert Meachem

3 Yr Avg
2011

43
40

660
620

15.35
15.50

6
6

63
60

Denarius Moore
Denarius Moore

3 Yr Avg
2011

33
33

618
618

18.73
18.73

5
5

76
76

Lance Moore
Lance Moore

3 Yr Avg
2011

44
52

514
627

11.68
12.06

6
8

62
73
66

WIDE RECEIVER STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
W IDE

NAME

YEAR

REC

YDS AVG

TD TARGETS

Marlon Moore
Marlon Moore

3 Yr Avg
2011

3
0

64
0

21.33
0.00

0
0

9
0

Josh Morgan
Josh Morgan

3 Yr Avg
2011

37
15

481
220

13.00
14.67

2
1

60
20

Randy Moss

3 Yr Avg

55

828

15.05

9

101

Santana Moss
Santana Moss

3 Yr Avg
2011

69
46

867
584

12.57
12.70

4
4

120
96

Louis Murphy
Louis Murphy

3 Yr Avg
2011

30
15

457
241

15.23
16.07

2
0

69
33

Legedu Naanee
Legedu Naanee

3 Yr Avg
2011

30
44

360
467

12.00
10.61

1
1

49
76

David Nelson
David Nelson

3 Yr Avg
2011

46
61

505
658

10.98
10.79

4
5

72
98

Jordy Nelson
Jordy Nelson

3 Yr Avg
2011

45
68

721
1263

16.02
18.57

6
15

63
96

Hakeem Nicks
Hakeem Nicks

3 Yr Avg
2011

67
76

1011
1192

15.09
15.68

8
7

111
133

Ben Obomanu
Ben Obomanu

3 Yr Avg
2011

23
37

323
436

14.04
11.78

2
2

38
61

Chad Ochocinco
Chad Ochocinco

3 Yr Avg
2011

51
15

718
276

14.08
18.40

4
1

95
32

Kevin Ogletree
Kevin Ogletree

3 Yr Avg
2011

8
15

98
164

12.25
10.93

0
0

13
26

Terrell Owens

3 Yr Avg

63

906

14.38

7

124

Preston Parker
Preston Parker

3 Yr Avg
2011

22
40

298
554

13.55
13.85

1
3

36
64

Roscoe Parrish
Roscoe Parrish

3 Yr Avg
2011

12
1

150
16

12.50
16.00

0
0

20
4

Austin Pettis
Austin Pettis

3 Yr Avg
2011

27
27

256
256

9.48
9.48

0
0

48
48

Sidney Rice
Sidney Rice

3 Yr Avg
2011

44
32

692
484

15.73
15.13

4
2

73
57

Andre Roberts
Andre Roberts

3 Yr Avg
2011

37
51

446
586

12.05
11.49

2
2

73
98

Laurent Robinson
Laurent Robinson

3 Yr Avg
2011

33
54

456
858

13.82
15.89

4
11

59
81

Eddie Royal
Eddie Royal

3 Yr Avg
2011

38
19

375
155

9.87
8.16

1
1

78
50

Greg Salas
Greg Salas

3 Yr Avg
2011

27
27

264
264

9.78
9.78

0
0

38
38

Emmanuel Sanders
Emmanuel Sanders

3 Yr Avg
2011

25
22

332
288

13.28
13.09

2
2

46
43

Chaz Schilens
Chaz Schilens

3 Yr Avg
2011

19
23

225
271

11.84
11.78

1
2

31
34

Jordan Shipley
Jordan Shipley

3 Yr Avg
2011

28
4

307
14

10.96
3.50

1
0

39
5

Jerome Simpson
Jerome Simpson

3 Yr Avg
2011

23
50

334
725

14.52
14.50

2
4

43
105

Steve Smith
Steve Smith

3 Yr Avg
2011

63
79

976
1394

15.49
17.65

5
7

119
129

Steven Smith
Steven Smith

3 Yr Avg
2011

55
11

624
124

11.35
11.27

3
1

84
20

Torrey Smith
Torrey Smith

3 Yr Avg
2011

50
50

841
841

16.82
16.82

7
7

96
96

Micheal Spurlock
Micheal Spurlock

3 Yr Avg
2011

6
2

87
13

14.50
6.50

0
0

13
6
67

WIDE RECEIVER STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
W IDE

NAME

YEAR

REC

YDS AVG

TD TARGETS

Donte Stallworth
Donte Stallworth

3 Yr Avg
2011

12
22

195
309

16.25
14.05

1
2

21
38

Brandon Stokley
Brandon Stokley

3 Yr Avg
2011

17
1

229
7

13.47
7.00

1
0

26
3

Golden Tate
Golden Tate

3 Yr Avg
2011

28
35

304
382

10.86
10.91

1
3

48
58

Demaryius Thomas
Demaryius Thomas

3 Yr Avg
2011

27
32

417
551

15.44
17.22

3
4

54
69

Mike Thomas
Mike Thomas

3 Yr Avg
2011

52
44

562
415

10.81
9.43

2
1

77
92

Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace

3 Yr Avg
2011

57
72

1068
1193

18.74
16.57

8
8

95
113

Kevin Walter
Kevin Walter

3 Yr Avg
2011

47
39

568
474

12.09
12.15

3
3

72
59

Nate Washington
Nate Washington

3 Yr Avg
2011

54
74

759
1023

14.06
13.82

6
7

101
121

Reggie Wayne
Reggie Wayne

3 Yr Avg
2011

95
75

1193
960

12.56
12.80

6
4

152
131

Wes Welker
Wes Welker

3 Yr Avg
2011

110
122

1255
1569

11.41
12.86

6
9

152
173

Roddy White
Roddy White

3 Yr Avg
2011

100
100

1279
1296

12.79
12.96

9
8

174
180

Damian Williams
Damian Williams

3 Yr Avg
2011

30
45

405
592

13.50
13.16

2
5

61
94

Mike Williams
Mike Williams

3 Yr Avg
2011

41
18

493
236

12.02
13.11

1
1

74
38

Mike Williams
Mike Williams

3 Yr Avg
2011

65
65

867
771

13.34
11.86

7
3

126
124

Matt Willis
Matt Willis

3 Yr Avg
2011

6
18

94
267

15.67
14.83

0
1

12
36

Titus Young
Titus Young

3 Yr Avg
2011

48
48

607
607

12.65
12.65

6
6

85
85

68

TIGHT END STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES
NAME

YEAR

REC

YDS AVG

TD TARGETS

Jake Ballard
Jake Ballard

3 Yr Avg
2011

19
38

302
604

15.89
15.89

2
4

30
61

Travis Beckum
Travis Beckum

3 Yr Avg
2011

8
5

88
93

11.00
18.60

1
1

13
10

Martellus Bennett
Martellus Bennett

3 Yr Avg
2011

21
17

187
144

8.90
8.47

0
0

34
26

Kevin Boss
Kevin Boss

3 Yr Avg
2011

35
28

488
368

13.94
13.14

4
3

59
40

James Casey
James Casey

3 Yr Avg
2011

10
18

140
260

14.00
14.44

0
1

16
24

Brent Celek
Brent Celek

3 Yr Avg
2011

60
62

764
811

12.73
13.08

5
5

96
97

Scott Chandler
Scott Chandler

3 Yr Avg
2011

13
38

132
389

10.15
10.24

2
6

16
46

Dallas Clark
Dallas Clark

3 Yr Avg
2011

57
34

601
352

10.54
10.35

5
2

83
65

Jared Cook
Jared Cook

3 Yr Avg
2011

29
49

398
759

13.72
15.49

1
3

47
81

Chris Cooley
Chris Cooley

3 Yr Avg
2011

38
8

415
65

10.92
8.13

1
0

61
13

Owen Daniels
Owen Daniels

3 Yr Avg
2011

44
54

555
677

12.61
12.54

3
3

70
85

Fred Davis
Fred Davis

3 Yr Avg
2011

42
59

540
796

12.86
13.49

4
3

65
88

Kellen Davis
Kellen Davis

3 Yr Avg
2011

9
18

100
206

11.11
11.44

3
5

17
35

Vernon Davis
Vernon Davis

3 Yr Avg
2011

67
67

890
792

13.28
11.82

8
6

106
95

Ed Dickson
Ed Dickson

3 Yr Avg
2011

32
54

340
528

10.63
9.78

3
5

56
89

Joel Dreessen
Joel Dreessen

3 Yr Avg
2011

30
28

397
353

13.23
12.61

3
6

44
39

Anthony Fasano
Anthony Fasano

3 Yr Avg
2011

34
32

439
451

12.91
14.09

3
5

56
54

Jermichael Finley
Jermichael Finley

3 Yr Avg
2011

43
55

581
767

13.51
13.95

4
8

63
92

Antonio Gates
Antonio Gates

3 Yr Avg
2011

64
64

905
778

14.14
12.16

8
7

87
88

Tony Gonzalez
Tony Gonzalez

3 Yr Avg
2011

77
80

799
875

10.38
10.94

6
7

120
116

Jimmy Graham
Jimmy Graham

3 Yr Avg
2011

65
99

833
1310

12.82
13.23

8
11

96
149

Jermaine Gresham
Jermaine Gresham

3 Yr Avg
2011

54
56

533
596

9.87
10.64

5
6

87
92

Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski

3 Yr Avg
2011

66
90

936
1327

14.18
14.74

13
17

91
124

Clay Harbor
Clay Harbor

3 Yr Avg
2011

11
13

117
163

10.64
12.54

1
1

17
19

Todd Heap
Todd Heap

3 Yr Avg
2011

39
24

491
283

12.59
11.79

4
1

58
36

Aaron Hernandez
Aaron Hernandez

3 Yr Avg
2011

62
79

736
910

11.87
11.52

6
7

88
113

Rob Housler
Rob Housler

3 Yr Avg
2011

12
12

133
133

11.08
11.08

0
0

26
26

Dustin Keller
Dustin Keller

3 Yr Avg
2011

55
65

674
815

12.25
12.54

4
5

99
115

69

TIGHT END STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
T IGHT

NAME

YEAR

REC

YDS AVG

TD TARGETS

Lance Kendricks
Lance Kendricks

3 Yr Avg
2011

28
28

352
352

12.57
12.57

0
0

59
59

Jeff King
Jeff King

3 Yr Avg
2011

23
27

197
271

8.57
10.04

2
3

33
34

Marcedes Lewis
Marcedes Lewis

3 Yr Avg
2011

43
39

559
460

13.00
11.79

4
0

77
85

Randy McMichael
Randy McMichael

3 Yr Avg
2011

28
30

274
271

9.79
9.03

1
0

44
44

Heath Miller
Heath Miller

3 Yr Avg
2011

56
51

644
631

11.50
12.37

3
2

80
75

Zach Miller
Zach Miller

3 Yr Avg
2011

50
25

574
233

11.48
9.32

2
0

78
44

Zach Miller
Zach Miller

3 Yr Avg
2011

15
4

156
42

10.40
10.50

1
1

20
7

Evan Moore
Evan Moore

3 Yr Avg
2011

20
34

268
324

13.40
9.53

1
4

24
47

Brandon Myers
Brandon Myers

3 Yr Avg
2011

10
16

83
151

8.30
9.44

0
0

16
27

Greg Olsen
Greg Olsen

3 Yr Avg
2011

48
45

518
540

10.79
12.00

6
5

88
89

Brandon Pettigrew
Brandon Pettigrew

3 Yr Avg
2011

61
83

615
777

10.08
9.36

3
5

98
126

John Phillips
John Phillips

3 Yr Avg
2011

11
15

81
101

7.36
6.73

0
1

9
18

Dennis Pitta
Dennis Pitta

3 Yr Avg
2011

20
40

203
405

10.15
10.13

1
3

30
56

Leonard Pope
Leonard Pope

3 Yr Avg
2011

18
24

165
247

9.17
10.29

1
1

27
34

Kyle Rudolph
Kyle Rudolph

3 Yr Avg
2011

26
26

249
249

9.58
9.58

3
3

39
39

Tony Scheffler
Tony Scheffler

3 Yr Avg
2011

34
26

380
347

11.18
13.35

3
6

55
43

Visanthe Shiancoe
Visanthe Shiancoe

3 Yr Avg
2011

46
36

501
409

10.89
11.36

5
3

76
71

Jeremy Shockey
Jeremy Shockey

3 Yr Avg
2011

42
37

477
455

11.36
12.30

3
4

62
62

Luke Stocker
Luke Stocker

3 Yr Avg
2011

12
12

92
92

7.67
7.67

0
0

17
17

Jacob Tamme
Jacob Tamme

3 Yr Avg
2011

29
19

281
177

9.69
9.32

1
1

44
31

David Thomas
David Thomas

3 Yr Avg
2011

23
5

197
16

8.57
3.20

1
0

34
9

Delanie Walker
Delanie Walker

3 Yr Avg
2011

23
19

254
198

11.04
10.42

1
3

37
35

Ben Watson
Ben Watson

3 Yr Avg
2011

44
37

525
410

11.93
11.08

3
2

71
71

Kellen Winslow
Kellen Winslow

3 Yr Avg
2011

72
75

792
763

11.00
10.17

4
2

115
121

70

KICKER STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES
NAME

YEAR

FGM

XPM

David Akers
David Akers

3 Yr Avg
2011

36
44

41
34

Dan Bailey
Dan Bailey

3 Yr Avg
2011

32
32

39
39

Connor Barth
Connor Barth

3 Yr Avg
2011

21
26

23
23

Rob Bironas
Rob Bironas

3 Yr Avg
2011

26
29

36
34

Josh Brown
Josh Brown

3 Yr Avg
2011

24
21

20
18

Matt Bryant
Matt Bryant

3 Yr Avg
2011

20
27

33
45

Dan Carpenter
Dan Carpenter

3 Yr Avg
2011

28
29

29
26

Mason Crosby
Mason Crosby

3 Yr Avg
2011

24
24

54
68

Billy Cundiff
Billy Cundiff

3 Yr Avg
2011

22
28

32
38

Phil Dawson
Phil Dawson

3 Yr Avg
2011

21
24

22
20

Jay Feely
Jay Feely

3 Yr Avg
2011

24
19

31
33

Nick Folk
Nick Folk

3 Yr Avg
2011

22
19

39
44

Graham Gano
Graham Gano

3 Yr Avg
2011

19
31

19
25

Stephen Gostkowski
Stephen Gostkowski

3 Yr Avg
2011

21
28

44
59

Robbie Gould
Robbie Gould

3 Yr Avg
2011

25
28

35
37

Shayne Graham
Shayne Graham
Shayne Graham

3 Yr Avg
2011
2011

13
2
4

25
2
6

Jason Hanson
Jason Hanson

3 Yr Avg
2011

19
24

32
54

Garrett Hartley

3 Yr Avg

14

25

Steven Hauschka
Steven Hauschka

3 Yr Avg
2011

13
25

23
34

Alex Henery
Alex Henery

3 Yr Avg
2011

24
24

46
46

Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski

3 Yr Avg
2011

30
31

32
36

Nate Kaeding
Nate Kaeding

3 Yr Avg
2011

18
0

30
0

John Kasay
John Kasay

3 Yr Avg
2011

25
28

37
63

Rian Lindell
Rian Lindell

3 Yr Avg
2011

19
13

26
25

Olindo Mare
Olindo Mare

3 Yr Avg
2011

23
22

34
44

Mike Nugent
Mike Nugent

3 Yr Avg
2011

16
33

19
33

Matt Prater
Matt Prater

3 Yr Avg
2011

21
19

30
30

Neil Rackers
Neil Rackers

3 Yr Avg
2011

25
32

39
39

71

KICKER STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
K ICKER

NAME

YEAR

FGM

XPM

Josh Scobee
Josh Scobee

3 Yr Avg
2011

21
23

31
24

Ryan Succop
Ryan Succop

3 Yr Avg
2011

23
24

30
20

Shaun Suisham
Shaun Suisham

3 Yr Avg
2011

13
23

20
36

Lawrence Tynes
Lawrence Tynes

3 Yr Avg
2011

21
19

43
43

Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri

3 Yr Avg
2011

18
23

30
24

72

IDP STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES
NAME

YEAR

POS

INT TKL

SACK

TD

John Abraham
John Abraham

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

32
25

9
9.5

0
0

Sam Acho
Sam Acho

3 Yr Avg
2011

OLB
OLB

0
0

30
30

7
7

0
0

Jared Allen
Jared Allen

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

1
1

47
47

16
22

0
0

James Anderson
James Anderson

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
2

84
98

2
1.5

0
0

Pat Angerer
Pat Angerer

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
1

63
76

1
1

0
0

Kyle Arrington
Kyle Arrington

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

2
7

36
60

0
0

0
0

Geno Atkins
Geno Atkins

3 Yr Avg
2011

DT
DT

0
0

18
26

5
7.5

0
1

Cliff Avril
Cliff Avril

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
1

30
29

8
11

0
2

Akeem Ayers
Akeem Ayers

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

48
48

2
2

0
0

Jason Babin
Jason Babin

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

31
35

11
18

0
0

Ronde Barber
Ronde Barber

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
3

69
67

1
1

0
0

Nick Barnett
Nick Barnett

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
3

67
78

2
3

0
1

Jon Beason
Jon Beason

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
0

78
4

1
0

0
0

Eric Berry
Eric Berry

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
0

36
0

1
0

0
0

Antoine Bethea
Antoine Bethea

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

1
0

84
80

1
0

0
0

Atari Bigby
Atari Bigby

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

1
0

19
5

1
1

0
0

Desmond Bishop
Desmond Bishop

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

58
90

3
5

0
0

Michael Boley
Michael Boley

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

72
72

1
1

0
1

Navorro Bowman
Navorro Bowman

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

63
107

1
2

0
0

Tyvon Branch
Tyvon Branch

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

0
1

92
78

2
1

0
0

Lance Briggs
Lance Briggs

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

93
86

1.5
0

0
0

Ahmad Brooks
Ahmad Brooks

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

25
35

6
7

0
0

Brandon Browner
Brandon Browner

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

6
6

51
51

0
0

2
2

Kevin Burnett
Kevin Burnett

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

75
84

4
2.5

0
1

Morgan Burnett
Morgan Burnett

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
3

44
77

0.5
1

0
0

Donald Butler
Donald Butler

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

77
77

2
2

1
1

Jairus Byrd
Jairus Byrd

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

4
3

56
75

1
1

0
1

Calais Campbell
Calais Campbell

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
1

48
53

7
8

0
0

73

IDP STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
I DP

NAME

YEAR

POS

INT TKL

SACK

TD

Andre Carter
Andre Carter

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

39
31

8
10

0
0

Quinton Carter
Quinton Carter

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

0
0

41
41

1
1

0
0

Jurrell Casey
Jurrell Casey

3 Yr Avg
2011

DT
DT

0
0

39
39

2.5
2.5

0
0

Antoine Cason
Antoine Cason

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

2
2

44
46

0
0

0
0

Kam Chancellor
Kam Chancellor

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
4

41
73

1
1

0
0

Jamar Chaney
Jamar Chaney

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
3

47
67

0.5
1

0
0

Patrick Chung
Patrick Chung

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

1
1

42
37

1
1

0
0

Ryan Clark
Ryan Clark

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
1

72
71

1
1

0
0

Adrian Clayborn
Adrian Clayborn

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

29
29

7.5
7.5

0
0

Chris Clemons
Chris Clemons

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

24
34

8
11

0
0

Trent Cole
Trent Cole

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

49
41

11
11

0
0

Kavell Conner
Kavell Conner

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

40
50

0
0

0
0

Dan Connor
Dan Connor

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

33
52

0
0

0
0

Brian Cushing
Brian Cushing

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

2
2

87
76

3.5
4

0
0

Karlos Dansby
Karlos Dansby

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
1

91
87

2
2

0
0

Marcell Dareus
Marcell Dareus

3 Yr Avg
2011

DT
DT

0
0

32
32

5.5
5.5

0
0

Akeem Dent
Akeem Dent

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

1
1

0
0

0
0

Glenn Dorsey
Glenn Dorsey

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

45
31

1
0

0
0

Elvis Dumervil
Elvis Dumervil

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

40
31

13
9.5

0
0

Carlos Dunlap
Carlos Dunlap

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

15
11

7
4.5

0
1

Cortland Finnegan
Cortland Finnegan

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

2
1

67
58

1
1

0
0

London Fletcher
London Fletcher

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
2

108
96

2
1.5

0
0

Brandon Flowers
Brandon Flowers

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

3
4

56
47

0
0

0
1

Mason Foster
Mason Foster

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

57
57

2
2

0
0

Dwight Freeney
Dwight Freeney

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

19
13

11
8.5

0
0

Charles Godfrey
Charles Godfrey

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
2

58
62

1
1

0
0

Dashon Goldson
Dashon Goldson

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

3
6

68
52

1
0

0
0

Chad Greenway
Chad Greenway

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
0

98
89

1
2

0
0
74

IDP STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
I DP

NAME

YEAR

POS

INT TKL

SACK

TD

Michael Griffin
Michael Griffin

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
2

72
59

0
0

0
0

Brent Grimes
Brent Grimes

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

4
1

55
35

0
0

0
0

Cody Grimm
Cody Grimm

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

1
0

24
10

0
0

0
0

Joe Haden
Joe Haden

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

3
0

51
53

1
1

0
0

Tamba Hali
Tamba Hali

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

49
48

12
12

0
0

DeAngelo Hall
DeAngelo Hall

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

4
3

62
65

0
0

0
0

Greg Hardy
Greg Hardy

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

29
38

3.5
4

0
0

Roman Harper
Roman Harper

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

0
0

81
73

4
7.5

0
0

David Harris
David Harris

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

2
4

86
65

4.5
5

0
1

James Harrison
James Harrison

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

65
48

10
9

0
0

David Hawthorne
David Hawthorne

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

2
3

87
73

2
2

0
1

E.J. Henderson
E.J. Henderson

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
0

78
80

2
2

0
0

Leroy Hill
Leroy Hill

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

38
68

2
4

0
0

Chris Houston
Chris Houston

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

2
5

46
44

0
0

0
2

Justin Houston
Justin Houston

3 Yr Avg
2011

OLB
OLB

0
0

43
43

5.5
5.5

0
0

Lamarr Houston
Lamarr Houston

3 Yr Avg
2011

DT
DT

0
1

33
36

3
1

0
0

Thomas Howard
Thomas Howard

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

48
64

1
1

0
0

Nate Irving
Nate Irving

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

D’Qwell Jackson
D’Qwell Jackson

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
1

87
116

1.75
3.5

0
0

Tanard Jackson
Tanard Jackson

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
2

36
32

0
0

0
0

Cullen Jenkins
Cullen Jenkins

3 Yr Avg
2011

DT
DT

0
0

26
33

5.5
5.5

0
0

Malcolm Jenkins
Malcolm Jenkins

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

1
0

54
63

1
1

0
1

Tim Jennings
Tim Jennings

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

1
2

53
69

0
0

0
0

Charles Johnson
Charles Johnson

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

35
31

8
9

0
0

Derrick Johnson
Derrick Johnson

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

2
2

77
104

1
2

1
0

Johnathan Joseph
Johnathan Joseph

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

4
4

48
40

0
0

0
0

Linval Joseph
Linval Joseph

3 Yr Avg
2011

DT
DT

0
0

20
34

1
2

0
0

Tommy Kelly
Tommy Kelly

3 Yr Avg
2011

DT
DT

0
1

40
27

5
7.5

0
0

75

IDP STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
I DP

NAME

YEAR

POS

INT TKL

SACK

TD

Ryan Kerrigan
Ryan Kerrigan

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

42
42

7.5
7.5

1
1

Jacob Lacey
Jacob Lacey

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

1
1

57
47

0
0

0
1

Dawan Landry
Dawan Landry

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
2

79
71

0.5
0.5

0
0

LaRon Landry
LaRon Landry

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

0
0

63
35

1
1.5

0
0

James Laurinaitis
James Laurinaitis

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
2

107
105

2.5
3

0
0

Sean Lee
Sean Lee

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

3
4

44
69

0
0

0
0

Paris Lenon
Paris Lenon

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

66
64

1.5
3

0
0

DeAndre Levy
DeAndre Levy

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

67
72

0.5
1

0
0

Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

102
72

2.5
2

0
0

Curtis Lofton
Curtis Lofton

3 Yr Avg
2011

MLB
MLB

1
2

103
87

1
1

0
1

Chris Long
Chris Long

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

33
31

9
13

0
0

Danieal Manning
Danieal Manning

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

1
2

64
44

0
0

0
0

Richard Marshall
Richard Marshall

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

3
3

72
63

1
2

0
0

Robert Mathis
Robert Mathis

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

36
29

10
9.5

0
0

Clay Matthews
Clay Matthews

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
3

46
37

10
6

1
1

Rey Maualuga
Rey Maualuga

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

52
53

0.5
0

0
0

Jerod Mayo
Jerod Mayo

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
2

91
58

1.5
1

0
0

Colin McCarthy
Colin McCarthy

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

52
52

0
0

0
0

Rolando McClain
Rolando McClain

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

68
77

3
5

0
0

Devin McCourty
Devin McCourty

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

4
2

61
63

0.5
0

0
0

Jason McCourty
Jason McCourty

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

1
2

46
84

0.5
1

0
0

Quintin Mikell
Quintin Mikell

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
2

79
75

1
1

0
0

Von Miller
Von Miller

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

50
50

11.5
11.5

0
0

Jeremy Mincey
Jeremy Mincey

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
1

32
40

6.5
8

0
0

Kirk Morrison
Kirk Morrison

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

67
6

1
1

0
0

Reggie Nelson
Reggie Nelson

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
4

52
57

1
2

0
1

Haloti Ngata
Haloti Ngata

3 Yr Avg
2011

DT
DT

0
0

39
36

4
5

0
1

Brian Orakpo
Brian Orakpo

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

40
35

9.5
9

0
0

76

IDP STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
I DP

NAME

YEAR

POS

INT TKL

SACK

TD

Domata Peko
Domata Peko

3 Yr Avg
2011

DT
DT

0
0

27
34

1
2.5

0
0

Julius Peppers
Julius Peppers

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

1
0

39
33

10
11

0
0

Patrick Peterson
Patrick Peterson

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

2
2

59
59

1
1

0
0

Kenny Phillips
Kenny Phillips

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
4

44
59

0
0

0
0

Jason Pierre-Paul
Jason Pierre-Paul

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

41
66

10.5
16.5

0
0

Troy Polamalu
Troy Polamalu

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

4
2

44
64

1
1

0
1

Bernard Pollard
Bernard Pollard

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

1
1

79
55

2
2

0
0

Paul Posluszny
Paul Posluszny

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
2

94
69

2
2

0
0

Sione Pouha
Sione Pouha

3 Yr Avg
2011

DT
DT

0
0

42
41

1
1

0
0

Robert Quinn
Robert Quinn

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

19
19

5
5

0
0

Brooks Reed
Brooks Reed

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

30
30

6
6

0
0

Ed Reed
Ed Reed

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

4
3

41
44

0.5
1

0
0

Darrelle Revis
Darrelle Revis

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

3
4

40
41

0
0

0
1

Kerry Rhodes
Kerry Rhodes

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
0

55
26

1
2

0
0

Perry Riley
Perry Riley

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

17
34

0.5
1

0
0

Dunta Robinson
Dunta Robinson

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

1
2

52
39

0
0

0
0

Brian Robison
Brian Robison

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

16
27

5
8

0
0

Carlos Rogers
Carlos Rogers

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

2
6

40
40

0
0

0
1

Antrel Rolle
Antrel Rolle

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
2

76
82

1
0

0
0

Aaron Ross
Aaron Ross

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

1
4

27
46

0.5
0

0
0

Barrett Ruud
Barrett Ruud

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

89
40

1
0

0
0

DeMeco Ryans
DeMeco Ryans

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

66
44

1
0

0
0

Asante Samuel
Asante Samuel

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

6
3

30
30

0
0

0
1

Darryl Sharpton
Darryl Sharpton

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

11
9

0.5
0

0
0

Jabaal Sheard
Jabaal Sheard

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

40
40

8.5
8.5

0
0

Kelvin Sheppard
Kelvin Sheppard

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

42
42

0
0

0
0

Aldon Smith
Aldon Smith

3 Yr Avg
2011

OLB
OLB

0
0

30
30

14
14

0
0

Daryl Smith
Daryl Smith

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

85
74

3
3.5

0
0

77

IDP STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
I DP

NAME

YEAR

POS

INT TKL

SACK

TD

Eric Smith
Eric Smith

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

0
1

42
60

1.5
2.5

0
0

Justin Smith
Justin Smith

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

52
45

7.5
7.5

0
0

Sean Smith
Sean Smith

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

1
2

43
51

0
0

0
0

Brandon Spikes
Brandon Spikes

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

34
32

0
0

0
0

Takeo Spikes
Takeo Spikes

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

73
64

2
1

0
0

Randy Starks
Randy Starks

3 Yr Avg
2011

DT
DT

0
2

37
29

5
4.5

0
0

Darian Stewart
Darian Stewart

3 Yr Avg
2011

FS
FS

0
1

36
60

2
3

0
1

Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh

3 Yr Avg
2011

DT
DT

0
0

37
26

7
4

0
0

Ike Taylor
Ike Taylor

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

1
2

46
33

1
0

0
0

Earl Thomas
Earl Thomas

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

3
2

63
67

0
0

0
0

Terrell Thomas

3 Yr Avg

CB

5

83

1

0

Charles Tillman
Charles Tillman

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

3
3

77
82

1
1

1
2

Lawrence Timmons
Lawrence Timmons

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

78
63

4
2

0
0

Justin Tuck
Justin Tuck

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

44
27

7.5
5

0
0

Stephen Tulloch
Stephen Tulloch

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
2

105
84

2
3

0
1

Osi Umenyiora
Osi Umenyiora

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

26
16

9
9

0
0

Brian Urlacher
Brian Urlacher

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
3

61
84

1.5
0

0
1

Kyle Vanden Bosch
Kyle Vanden Bosch

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

35
26

5
8

0
0

Alterraun Verner
Alterraun Verner

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

2
1

59
41

0
0

0
0

Cameron Wake
Cameron Wake

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

32
37

9
8.5

0
0

T.J. Ward
T.J. Ward

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

1
0

53
27

0.5
1

0
0

DeMarcus Ware
DeMarcus Ware

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

53
48

15.5
19.5

0
0

Daryl Washington
Daryl Washington

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
2

79
94

3
5

0
0

J.J. Watt
J.J. Watt

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

49
49

5.5
5.5

0
0

Sean Weatherspoon
Sean Weatherspoon

3 Yr Avg
2011

OLB
OLB

0
0

57
80

2.5
4

0
0

Lardarius Webb
Lardarius Webb

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

2
5

44
54

1
1

0
1

Eric Weddle
Eric Weddle

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

3
7

75
66

1
0

0
0

Philip Wheeler
Philip Wheeler

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

42
44

1
1

0
0

Vince Wilfork
Vince Wilfork

3 Yr Avg
2011

DL
DL

0
2

39
29

2
3.5

0
1
78

IDP STATS & 3-YEAR AVERAGES (cont...)
I DP

NAME

YEAR

POS

INT TKL

SACK

TD

Muhammad Wilkerson
Muhammad Wilkerson

3 Yr Avg
2011

DL
DL

0
0

35
35

3
3

0
0

Aaron Williams
Aaron Williams

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

1
1

27
27

0
0

0
0

Cary Williams
Cary Williams

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

0
0

20
61

0
0

0
0

D.J. Williams
D.J. Williams

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

95
70

5
5

0
0

Kyle Williams
Kyle Williams

3 Yr Avg
2011

DT
DT

0
0

41
4

3.5
0

0
0

Mario Williams
Mario Williams

3 Yr Avg
2011

DE
DE

0
0

25
10

7.5
5

0
0

Tramon Williams
Tramon Williams

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

4
4

49
53

1
0

0
1

Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

109
74

4
2

0
0

Adrian Wilson
Adrian Wilson

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

2
1

66
48

1.5
0

0
0

George Wilson
George Wilson

3 Yr Avg
2011

FS
FS

3
4

60
76

1
0

0
0

Antoine Winfield
Antoine Winfield

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

1
1

53
34

1.5
1

0
0

LaMarr Woodley
LaMarr Woodley

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

1
1

40
26

11
9

0
0

Charles Woodson
Charles Woodson

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

6
7

71
63

2
2

1
1

Eric Wright
Eric Wright

3 Yr Avg
2011

CB
CB

3
4

56
68

0
0

0
0

K.J. Wright
K.J. Wright

3 Yr Avg
2011

LB
LB

0
0

46
46

2
2

0
0

Tom Zbikowski
Tom Zbikowski

3 Yr Avg
2011

S
S

0
0

15
14

0.5
1

0
0

79

P L AY E R G R A P E V I N E
A rizona Cardinals
L ARRY F ITZGERALD
Fitzgerald caught five passes for 91 yards in the Cards’ preseason loss to the Titans on Thursday. Fitzgerald will have an excellent year, but it is still a question as to who will throw him the ball.

R OB H OUSLER
Housler is being held out of Thursday’s preseason game due to a hamstring issue, the Cardinals’ official site reports. There’s no word yet on the severity of Housler’s issue, so we’ll consider him in the day-to-day category for now.

K EVIN K OLB
Kolb completed 17-of-22 passes for 156 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions during Thursday’s preseason game in Tennessee.
Kolb’s performance was a mixed bag but not nearly as troubling as some of his previous outings have been. He was the clear winner in the Cards’ QB competition Thursday, with John Skelton completing just four-of-10 passes for 41 yards and a pick, but any grasp Kolb may have on the starting job Week 1 is probably still shaky at best.

son knee surgery. Ryan Williams, also coming back from a knee injury, saw limited action with three carries for 15 yards. For now, it looks as though Wells escaped without any setbacks and that’s good news for Arizona.

RYAN W ILLIAMS
Williams (knee) had 15 yards on three carries in the Cards’ preseason loss to the Titans on Thursday. Most of Williams’ damage came on an early 12-yard run, but neither Williams nor Beanie Wells seems to have gained a hold on the starting tailback spot. Whoever starts however will have to deal with a reshuffled offensive line that has had problems in the preseason creating holes for runners and protecting the passer.

A tlanta Falcons
H ARRY D OUGLAS
Douglas caught three balls for 20 yards in Friday’s preseason game against the Dolphins. Douglas is a player to keep a eye on in deeper leagues as he could post big games if defenses focus on stopping Roddy White and Julio Jones.

W ILLIAM P OWELL

T ONY G ONZALEZ

Powell ran for 71 yards on seven carries with one touchdown in the
Cards’ preseason loss to the Titans on Thursday night. Powell has arguably been the Cards’ most impressive offensive player in the preseason, and has seemed to grab a firm hold on the team’s No. 4 tailback spot.

Gonzalez caught four balls for 24 yards in Friday’s preseason game against the Dolphins. Gonzalez could be a nice fantasy sleeper this season because the Falcons offense looks to rely heavily on their passing attack. Gonzalez may not be at the peak of his career anymore, but an eight-touchdown season isn’t out of the question.

A NDRE R OBERTS

J ULIO J ONES

Roberts (neck) played in Thursday’s preseason loss to the Titans, gaining 32 yards on five catches with one touchdown. Roberts looks to be a starter heading into Week 1, as Michael Floyd is still learning the offense. Whether that will change by midseason is anyone’s guess, but expect to see Roberts out there for the near future.

Jones had four catches for 90 yards Friday against the Dolphins.
Jones’ nine targets were a team-high as he continues to be a matchup nightmare for secondaries in just his second preseason.
Given the new up tempo offense being incorporated in Atlanta, you’ll be hard pressed to find another receiver in fantasy with a higher ceiling come draft day.

J OHN S KELTON
Skelton completed just 4-of-10 passes for 41 yards and an interception Thursday against the Titans. Skelton was given the starting nod for the team’s third preseason game, but he did nothing with the opportunity to pull ahead of Kevin Kolb, who strung together a much more impressive evening. Teams tend to rest their starters for the final preseason game, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see both
Skelton and Kolb get additional playing time next week to state their cases.

L A R OD S TEPHENS -H OWLING
Stephens-Howling (groin) is inactive for Thursday’s preseason game, the Cardinals’ official website reports. Stephens-Howling is sitting out to prevent further damage to his groin, which he pulled last week. He’s poised to be the team’s No. 3 running back, but given the injury histories of Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams, even a minor injury for Stephens-Howling is noteworthy.

B EANIE W ELLS
Wells (knee) rushed six times for 12 yards and a 2.0 YPC during his preseason debut Thursday. Wells did the bulk of his damage on a six-yard carry Thursday, but the Cardinals’ offense was so dreadful while Wells was in the game that it’s difficult to jump to any conclusions about how effective he’ll be early as he returns from offsea-

J ACQUIZZ R ODGERS
Rodgers rushed four times for four yards in Friday’s preseason game against the Dolphins. He also caught one ball for 18 yards.
Rodgers has looked good this preseason, but his upside is limited as long as Michael Turner continues to get the bulk of the work.

M ATT RYAN
Ryan completed 18-of-26 passes for 220 yards with a touchdown
Friday against the Dolphins. Ryan continues to light up the preseason with an aggressive gameplan from new OC Dirk Koetter.

J ASON S NELLING
Snelling (lower leg) did not play in Friday’s third preseason game against the Dolphins. It remains to be seen if Snelling will see action in the final preseason game, but Michael Turner is the Falcons running back to own. Jacquizz Rodgers has looked good during the preseason, so it will be interesting to see how the Falcons use
Snelling once he gets back to full health.

M ICHAEL T URNER
Turner ran for 35 yards on 10 carries in Friday’s preseason game against the Dolphins. He also caught three balls for 36 yards. It’s good to see Turner get back on track after a shaky preseason game
80

PLAYER GRAPEVINE (cont...)

against the Bengals. He also looked good in the passing game, a role the Falcons hope he can expand on in 2012.

tion for the No. 2 running back spot. If Rice were to suffer an injury we suspect that the two backs would split the workload, but Pierce is still the handcuff to own if you are drafting soon.

R ODDY W HITE
White caught two balls for 28 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s preseason game against the Dolphins. Although it was his fewest receptions and yards in a preseason game this season, it was the first time White found the endzone. White, Julio Jones and Tony
Gonzalez will see plenty of targets this season, so White will score his fair share of fantasy points.

B altimore Ravens
D AMIEN B ERRY
Berry carried seven times for 40 yards in Thursday’s preseason game against the Jaguars. Berry played well, but he didn’t work with the first-team offense at all, while both Bobby Rainey and
Bernard Pierce did. It doesn’t look like Berry will make the final roster unless the Ravens keep four running backs, but he has a nice combination of size and speed, and could catch on with a team at some point this season even if he doesn’t survive cuts.

A NQUAN B OLDIN
Boldin caught three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown in
Thursday’s preseason game against Jacksonville. Boldin was targeted four times in the first half, and didn’t play at all in the second half. He was the No. 2 option in the passing game behind Torrey
Smith, which is probably what we can expect to see once the games count.

E D D ICKSON
Dickson (shoulder) returned to practice Saturday, according to the
Baltimore Sun. Dickson, who suffered a shoulder sprain in the
Ravens’ preseason opener, will likely sit out the Ravens’ final preseason game. However, it looks like he will be ready to suit up
Week 1 as the starting tight end.

TANDON D OSS
Doss caught three passes for 11 yards in Thursday’s 48-17 preseason win over Jacksonville. The numbers don’t look impressive, but
Doss actually played a fantastic game while he was in there. He caught all three passes thrown his way, and two of those converted third-and-shorts. Doss also drew a 19-yard pass interference call that led to a Baltimore touchdown on the next play. Based on the distribution of play time, it looks like he will make the final roster as either the No. 4 or No. 5 receiver.

D ENNIS P ITTA
Pitta (hand) returned to practice Saturday, the Baltimore Sun reports. Pitta underwent surgery on a broken bone in his right hand
August 1 and has been out since. The Ravens have been hit hard with injury at tight end this preseason, with Ed Dickson (shoulder) also missing time. Both look like they will ready for Week 1, in which case Pitta will likely open the season as Dickson’s backup.

B OBBY R AINEY
Rainey only carried two times for seven yards in Friday’s preseason game against Jacksonville, but he was a huge contributor in the passing game, catching three passes for 73 yards and a score.
Once Ray Rice left the game, Rainey and Bernard Pierce split time working with the first-team offense. Pierce saw more work when
Joe Flacco was on the field, but Rainey stayed in to play with the second team, and took advantage by turning a dump-off pass into a 48-yard touchdown. At this point it certainly looks like he will make the final roster, but it remains to be seen what his role will be.
It would come as no surprise if Rainey and Pierce split the duties behind Ray Rice, although that wouldn’t leave much work for either since Rice rarely comes off of the field. Pierce is still the handcuff to own in Baltimore, but Rainey is a name worth remembering for those in deeper leagues.

R AY R ICE
Rice carried two times for 30 yards and caught a pass for 13 yards in Friday’s 48-17 preseason win over the Jaguars. Rice came out of the game long before any of Baltimore’s other starters on offense, but looked to be in mid-season form while he was in the game. He probably won’t play in the fourth preseason game, and should enter the 2012 season at full health.

T ORREY S MITH
Smith (ankle) torched the Jacksonville secondary for 103 yards on eight catches Thursday night. Despite the impressive numbers collected in a little over a half of work, Smith’s ankle didn’t look 100 percent Thursday, though he’ll likely have plenty of time to rest before the regular season opener. Smith saw a team-high 11 targets and was clearly Joe Flacco’s favorite option as the Ravens went with a no-huddle offense Thursday.

B uffalo Bills

J OE F LACCO

C.J. S PILLER

Flacco carved the Jacksonville defense Thursday, completing 27of-36 passes for 266 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Flacco certainly looked ready for the regular season Thursday night as the Ravens went no-huddle for much of the evening, and that seemed to suit the offense just fine. His interception came on a
Hail Mary at the end of the first half, so you could argue that he played even better than the stats indicate. Flacco will likely sit for the team’s preseason finale.

Bills coach Chan Gailey has been impressed with Spiller’s progress as a pass protector, according to BuffaloBills.com. Said Gailey:
“C.J. is right on the money. He knows everything now. It is not as easy as some people might think to figure it out. But he has it all down pat.” That’s going to keep him on the field as he shares time with Fred Jackson, which we expect to be quite more favorable than last year’s split when Jackson was healthy. Spiller only carried the ball 21 times through Week 11 last season, as Jackson was used almost exclusively in the backfield. But Spiller was fantastic after Jackson broke his leg, and he’s continued his grasp of the pro game in the offseason. He could be looking at 35-40 percent of the snaps when the Bills go with sets featuring one traditional running back, plus they’ve also said they’ll occasionally put both on the field. Spiller looks like one of the better No. 2 backs you can target once all the decent No. 1’s are gone.

B ERNARD P IERCE
Pierce carried 10 times for 35 yards and caught two passes for 19 yards in Thursday’s preseason game against the Jaguars. Pierce and Bobby Rainey both worked with the first-team offense once
Ray Rice left the game, and while Rainey had the better night, it would appear that Pierce still holds the advantage in the competi-

81

PLAYER GRAPEVINE (cont...)

C arolina Panthers
S TEVE S MITH
Smith (foot) is still on crutches and will not play against the Jets on
Sunday, according to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer. The good news is that Smith’s foot infection improved following a round of antibiotics Thursday, so the Panthers’ top wideout doesn’t seem to be in any danger of missing the start of the season.

C hicago Bears
A RMANDO A LLEN
Allen’s strong play in training camp was one of the factors that led the Bears to release Khalil Bell, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Now that Bell is out of the picture it sounds like either Allen or
Lorenzo Booker will be the Bears’ No. 3 running back behind Matt
Forte and Michael Bush. Neither player has done anything of note this preseason, and the next two exhibition games could decide who sticks as the No. 3 back.

E ARL B ENNETT
Bennett caught one pass for 12 yards Friday against the Giants.
The sure-handed Bennett had two uncharacteristic drops while the
Bears offense was never really able to get in sync. Bennett figures to remain Chicago’s slot man going forward, but his targets each week will depend mostly on gameplan.

L ORENZO B OOKER
Booker is part of the reason that Kahlil Bell was deemed expendable, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The Bears somewhat surprisingly released Khalil Bell so it looks like Booker and Armando Allen will compete for the No. 3 running back job. It’s unclear if the coaching staff in Chicago already has a player in mind, or if this will be an open competition decided over the last two preseason games. M ICHAEL B USH
The Bears are hoping to have Bush rush for 1,000 yards along with starter Matt Forte, The Chicago Sun-Times reports. In Bush’s free agent visit in the offseason, offensive coordinator Mike Tice told him of the teams desire to have two 1,000-yard backs. Bush has a high fantasy value for a backup already because he will see most of the goal line carries. Though two 1,000-yard backs in this era of passing is unlikely, when you add in Forte’s injury history and role in the passing game, Bush should have solid value this season.

J AY C UTLER
Cutler completed 9-of-21 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown
Friday. The offensive line did a fair job blocking up front, but Cutler was never able to find a groove Friday. It’s a sign that, although he does have an improved offense this year, these rough games are going to appear from time to time. It’s probably what has been keeping Cutler from every-week-starter status in fantasy leagues since his arrival in Chicago. The lone bright spot, though, continues to be a excellent connection with Brandon Marshall, as the two hooked up for 51 yards and touchdown in New York.

K ELLEN D AVIS
Davis did not catch a pass Friday against the Giants. He had just one target and has had a lack luster preseason to say the least. As of now Davis can only be considered a very deep flier in most leagues as offseason plans to get him more involved do not appear to be coming to fruition.

M ATT F ORTE
Forte had 10 carries for 39 yards Friday against the Giants. Before runs of 24 and 11 yards early in the third, Forte had just four yards on eight carries and the offensive line failed to execute in the run game. We don’t figure to see any of Forte until Week 1 against the
Colts, but he is still a focal point of the Bears offense, even if he is losing red-zone work to Michael Bush.

D EVIN H ESTER
Hester caught two passes for 24 yards and had one rush for 19 yards Friday against the Giants. The three touches for 43 yards proves Hester is dynamic with the ball in his hands, but his past production has shown that consistent output is hit- or-miss. Hester will continue to get his looks as he is currently the starter outside of Brandon Marshall, but don’t be surprised if he is pushed by rookie Alshon Jeffery by season’s end.

A LSHON J EFFERY
Jeffery had one catch for nine yards Friday against the Giants. The rookie had three targets, and should have probably hauled in a touchdown early in the game, but the passing attack never got in rhythm tonight. Jeffery may end up playing a fair deal with the two’s in the preseason finale, so expect some better production then. B RANDON M ARSHALL
Marshall caught five passes for 51 yards and a touchdown Friday against the Giants. Marshall was targeted a whopping 10 times in just over a half, and though many were uncharitable, Jay Cutler has shown a preference to lock on to his old teammate. It is doubtful
Marshall will play next week against the Browns, but the veteran receiver looks poised for a big year in 2012, especially in PPR leagues. C incinnati Bengals
A NDY D ALTON
Dalton completed 5-of-17 passes for 40 yards against Green Bay on Thursday. It wasn’t an inspiring outing for Dalton, who has little help from his receiving corps outside of A.J. Green, who still mustered just one catch for three yards Thursday. If the Bengals don’t find a receiver to step up opposite Green soon, Dalton may have a bit more difficult sophomore campaign.

A .J. G REEN
Green caught just one pass for three yards during Thursday’s preseason tune-up against Green Bay. Cincinnati’s top offense failed to get much going at all Thursday from the top down as Dalton completed just five of his 17 passes. Green’s been relatively quiet this preseason with three catches (62 yards, one touchdown) in three games, but he’s the only reliable wideout option Dalton has.

J ERMAINE G RESHAM
Gresham (knee) will miss the remainder of the preseason but is expected to play in the regular season opener against Baltimore, the Bengals’ official site reports. Gresham’s absence has been felt both in the passing game and in the running game, as he’s the team’s best run blocking tight end.

M ARVIN J ONES
Jones caught a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s preseason loss to the Packers and has five catches for 111 yards in the preseason. While the number two receiver job remains wide
82

PLAYER GRAPEVINE (cont...)

open, don’t get overly persuaded by Jones’ numbers in the preseason - most of them have come against opposing teams backups.

B RIAN L EONARD
With BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Bernard Scott still out Thursday night, Leonard split the duties with Cedric Peerman, rushing four times for 19 yards. Both backs received four carries apiece, hardly enough to draw any solid conclusions, but at least this was better than last week’s outing against the Falcons.

B RANDON TATE
Tate had two catches for 19 yards in the Bengals’ preseason loss to the Packers on Thursday. Both catches went for first downs, the
Cincinnati Enquirer reports. The release of Jordan Shipley helps solidify Tate’s role with the team - he might end up being the
Bengals’ No. 2 receiver for Week 1.

reports. He’s working hard to catch up, and has shown the good hands in practice that made him such an intriguing fifth-round pick, but given all the time he lost to injury this offseason he simply may not be able to make up enough ground.

J ASON W ITTEN
The Cowboys consider Witten (spleen) “50-50” for the Week 1 opener against the Giants, ESPN 103.3’s Matt Mosley reports. The
Cowboys’ view might be overly optimistic, as ESPN’s Adam
Schefter has stated that a Week 2 return is more likely, especially considering Week 1 for the Cowboys is Sept. 5, or four days before every other team. Fantasy owners of Witten might do well to scour the waiver wire for a potential backup tight end for Week 1.

D enver Broncos
T YLER G RISHAM

C leveland Browns
B RANDON J ACKSON
Jackson rushed seven times for a team-high 34 yards (4.9 YPC) and added a reception for seven yards as Cleveland fell Friday to
Philadelphia. Since Trent Richardson’s (knee) status for Week 1 still up in the air, Jackson continues to compete for the backup running back role for the Browns with Montario Hardesty (12 yards on eight carries Friday). An impressive outing in the Browns’ final preseason tilt against the Bears on Thursday could earn Jackson a start in
Week 1, if in fact Richardson isn’t able to return.

T RENT R ICHARDSON
Richardson, who had his knee scoped on Aug. 9, is expected to play in the Browns’ regular-season opener against the Eagles,
ESPN.com reports. Though Richardson’s recovery is going well enough for this nugget to be out there, his injury remains of some short-term concern, as the Browns are likely to limit his workload out of the gate. Montario Hardesty and Brandon Jackson maintain some utility as insurance for the highly talented rookie back.

B RANDON W EEDEN
Weeden went 9-of-20 for 117 yards as Cleveland was waxed during
Friday’s preseason loss to Philadelphia. Weeden was on point early, completing four passes for 66 yards as he drove the Browns to the
Eagles’ two-yard line. However, a holding penalty backed the offense up, and Weeden subsequently fumbled the ball on the next play following an untouched sack by the Eagles’ Derek Landri. The remainder of his appearance was nothing special, which included an additional fumble recovered by his side, but Weeden isn’t exactly inspiring confidence this preseason as a 28-year-old rookie.

D allas Cowboys
M ILES A USTIN

Grisham (knee) was waived by the Broncos on Friday, the Denver
Post reports. Grisham was unlikely to make the Broncos’ roster and faced even longer odds after injuring his knee in the first few days of practice. Grisham appeared in four games with Steelers last season.

G reen Bay Packers
C EDRIC B ENSON
Benson rushed six times for 38 yards in his debut with the Packers on Thursday against the Bengals. While the sample size is small,
Benson did not disappoint in his first action with Green Bay.
Though Alex Green (five carries for 10 yards) started Thursday,
Benson saw his share of snaps from the second series of the first quarter on through the remainder of the first half. With James
Starks and Brandon Saine hurting, there exists an immediate opportunity for Benson, who demonstrated Thursday that he’s up for the challenge after being largely spurned in free agency.

R ANDALL C OBB
Cobb caught two passes for 23 yards during Thursday’s preseason game. Cobb is looking a little more comfortable this season and could be in for a bigger year.

A LEX G REEN
Green rushed five times for 10 yards in Thursday’s preseason game against the Bengals. Green continues to progress as he bounces back from ACL surgery, but while he got the starting nod, it was recently signed Cedric Benson who opened eyes Thursday, looking sharp while rushing six times for 38 yards in his Packers debut.

G REG J ENNINGS
Jennings caught two passes for 37 yards during Thursday’s preseason game. This was the first game of the preseason for Jennings so he’s still getting some timing down. He should be ready for the start of the season after missing two weeks with a concussion.

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said Thursday that Austin has had no setbacks with his latest hamstring injury, the Dallas Morning
News reports. Given the trouble Austin’s had staying healthy the last couple of seasons the club is being very cautious with him, but all indications right now are that he should be in the lineup for Week
1 even if he doesn’t see any preseason action.

Kuhn rushed three times for 19 yards during Thursday’s preseason game. These were Kuhn’s first rushes of the preseason and the
Packers just wanted to get him some touches. He’ll be used sparingly this season and will be a more conventional fullback.

D ANNY C OALE

A ARON R ODGERS

Coale remains well behind the Cowboys’ other third WR candidates in his route running, Bryan Broaddus of DallasCowboys.com

Rodgers was 6-for-22 for 154 yards and an interception during
Thursday’s exhibition game. Rodgers did run for two touchdowns,

J OHN K UHN

83

PLAYER GRAPEVINE (cont...)

but didn’t look that sharp overall. The Green Bay offense hasn’t looked all that great in three preseason games, but they’ve also been dealing with some injuries. It’s hard to think that they won’t be firing on all cylinders once the season begins.

to Jacksonville for fantasy relevant wideouts, the Oklahoma State rookie is your best bet.

H ouston Texans

J ON B ALDWIN

D E V IER P OSEY
Posey missed Thursday’s practice with a sore calf, the Houston
Chronicle reports. With the Texans set to play their starters for three quarters in Saturday’s preseason game against New Orleans, there’s a good chance Posey doesn’t get on the field again until the final preseason game next Thursday. Posey appears to be looking at a job as the team’s fifth wideout once the regular season opens.

J acksonville Jaguars
J USTIN B LACKMON
Blackmon caught four passes for 72 yards during Thursday’s preseason loss to the Ravens. Most importantly, Blackmon saw a team-high eight targets from Blaine Gabbert. The real fantasy implication of Gabbert’s improvement this preseason is that Blackmon could be worth a late-round investment, as it’s clear he’ll be in the top target in Jacksonville.

B LAINE G ABBERT
Gabbert completed 11-of-21 passes for 117 yards and no touchdowns or picks during Thursday’s preseason game in Baltimore.
Thursday’s outing was good in the sense that Gabbert held firm in the pocket against a stout Ravens defense, but it did little to show he’ll look like a top-10 pick this season. Gabbert continued to look for rookie Justin Blackmon, who saw a team-high eight targets and hauled in four catches for 72 yards.

R ASHAD J ENNINGS
Jennings ran 13 times for 57 yards during Thursday’s preseason tune-up in Baltimore. Jennings’ YPC (4.4) took a nose dive against the staunch Ravens defense Thursday, but the key for the Jags is that he emerged healthy.

K ansas City Chiefs
Baldwin has displayed much more maturity throughout his second offseason in the NFL, ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson reports. Taking his cues from veteran receivers Steve Breaston and Terrance Copper,
Baldwin has come a long way from the locker room scuffle last summer with Thomas Jones that resulted in a broken thumb. He’s exhibited a much more professional approach to practices and his studying of the offense, and in the process has endeared himself to coaches and teammates while performing as the Chiefs’ No. 1 receiver throughout the entire offseason. The recent return of
Dwayne Bowe will decrease his practice reps some, but it may serve to make him more effective on the field once the regular season gets underway. With Bowe drawing more attention from defensive backs,
Baldwin should have plenty of opportunities to show off the highlight reel catches he’s been making with regularity in practice.

D WAYNE B OWE
Bowe caught one of his four targets for nine yards in Friday’s preseason game versus the Seahawks. After missing all of training camp, it was Bowe’s first game action since signing his franchise tag just one week ago, so a rusty performance in limited snaps was to be expected. The former Pro Bowler should be back to game speed though once the regular season kicks off and he will immediately resume his role as the Chiefs’ No. 1 wideout.

M ATT C ASSEL
Cassel completed 19-of-34 passes for 168 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the Chiefs’ third preseason game on Friday versus Seattle. After looking very efficient—albeit unspectacular— through the Chiefs’ two previous preseason games, Cassel regressed to the disappointing form he showed for the majority of
2011 prior to his hand injury. He struggled against an impressive
Seahawks defense for nearly three full quarters, averaging just less than five yards per attempt.

J AMAAL C HARLES
M ARCEDES L EWIS
Lewis caught two passes for 28 yards during Thursday’s preseason tune-up against Baltimore. Lewis has had a nice offseason to date, displaying pass-catching skills remnant of his 2010 10-touchdown campaign, and that’s only good news for Blaine Gabbert going forward.

Z ACH M ILLER
Miller was carted off the field in Thursday’s preseason game with a lower leg injury, the Florida Times Union reports. There’s no word yet on the extent of the injury, but it’s a disappointing setback for
Miller, who had just gotten over a pectoral injury. He’s expected to be the No. 2 tight end for the Jaguars, but that could change if he’s forced to miss extended time.

L AURENT R OBINSON
Robinson did not record a catch during Friday’s preseason game against the Ravens. The Jacksonville offense didn’t move the ball well against the Ravens’ No. 1 defense but Robinson hasn’t made much of an impact at all this preseason. Justin Blackmon is clearly
Blaine Gabbert’s favorite target so that should open up more opportunities for Robinson as the season wears on, but if you’re looking

Charles rushed six times for 32 yards and caught one pass for seven yards in the Chiefs’ blowout loss to Seattle on Friday night.
Charles may not see any carries in the team’s final preseason game, but he has shown in three exhibition matchups that he has regained the explosive burst that made him so special prior to tearing his
ACL last September. While he’s sure to split carries with Peyton
Hillis, the lightning component of the Chiefs’ backfield should remain a great source of total yards.

P EYTON H ILLIS
Hillis rushed just two times for minus one yard in Friday’s preseason loss to Seattle. Though the Chiefs figure to be a run-heavy team, they elected to throw the ball 44 times while only attempting 25 rushes. Hillis, who is expected to get significant work as both a runner and receiver out of the backfield, essentially got a night’s rest after the team turned to Matt Cassel’s arm early.

D EXTER M C C LUSTER
McCluster caught seven passes for a team-high 61 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s preseason loss to the Seahawks. McCluster was Matt Cassel’s favorite target for the game, leading the Chiefs with nine looks his way, and he appears to be very comfortable
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operating out of the slot. It’s beginning to look more and more plausible as he gains chemistry with Cassel that McCluster could actually supplant veteran Steve Breaston as the team’s No. 3 receiver this year.

B RADY Q UINN
Quinn completed 5-of-10 passes for 44 yards in Friday’s preseason game versus Seattle. Though his stat line was fairly weak, the bigger news here for Quinn is that he appears to have cemented the
No. 2 role behind Matt Cassel, as it was he and not second-year quarterback Ricky Stanzi who relieved Cassel in the third quarter.

offense struggled, which is a good sign for his fantasy value as he’ll be heavily targeted in the offense.

M ICHAEL J ENKINS
Jenkins had one reception for 15 yards in Friday’s preseason game.
The Vikings receivers beyond Percy Harvin and Jerome Simpson
(who missed the game in anticipation of his three-game suspension) were underwhelming Friday, so Jenkins remains in the mix for the
No. 2 role while Simpson is out. He recently agreed to restructure his contract to take a pay cut, which could save his spot.

A DRIAN P ETERSON

M iami Dolphins
D AVONE B ESS
Bess caught four passes for 59 yards on six targets Friday against the Falcons. Bess had the most targets of any Dolphins wide receiver and given the questions marks at the position this year, he looks like the favorite to be the No. 1 guy in Miami in 2012.

L AMAR M ILLER
Miller had five carries for 16 yards and one catch for eight yards
Friday against the Falcons. Daniel Thomas was able to amass 29 yards on six carries, so he may have a slight edge for the No. 2 running back job at the moment. However, the explosive rookie Miller should have a chance to showcase his skill set in Miami’s final preseason game against the Cowboys.

D ANIEL T HOMAS
Thomas had six carries for 29 yards Friday against the Falcons.
Thomas was finally able to put together a worthwhile effort compared to his two previous games of a combined three carries for negative one yard. The battle between he and Lamar Miller for the backup role behind Reggie Bush will likely be decided after the
Fins’ final preseason game.

M innesota Vikings
D EVIN A ROMASHODU
Aromashodu had three receptions for 28 yards in Friday’s preseason game. The Vikings receivers beyond Percy Harvin and Jerome
Simpson (who missed the game in anticipation of his three-game suspension) were underwhelming Friday, so Aromashodu likely helped his stock. Aromashodu could begin the season as the No. 2 receiver with Simpson out as the competition seems wide open at the moment, but whoever wins the job doesn’t look like a viable fantasy option.

T OBY G ERHART

Peterson (knee) will experience contact in practice next week,
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports. Peterson is on track to start Week
1, but Mortensen notes he’ll likely receive a lighter workload this season as he works his way back from the ACL injury. Expect Toby
Gerhart to get a healthy dose of carries of his own, especially early on in the season.

C HRISTIAN P ONDER
Ponder was 9-of-16 for 115 yards with no touchdowns and an interception in Friday’s preseason loss to San Diego. Ponder led the
Vikings to just three points despite playing a full half. However, it wasn’t all his fault as he faced constant pressure as he was sacked three times and hurried three other times. Ponder also didn’t have much of a running game as Adrian Peterson is sitting out the preseason and Toby Gerhart left early in the first quarter as a precaution. Ponder’s preseason and training camp has been a mixed bag of signs of improvement and some struggles. He’ll offer some fantasy upside as expectations are low, but he could start off slow as
Peterson gets back to full speed and with No. 2 receiver Jerome
Simpson suspended for the first three games.

K YLE R UDOLPH
Rudolph had three receptions for 36 yards in Friday’s preseason loss to San Diego. Rudolph left last week’s preseason game after taking a hard hit the head, but it didn’t look like an issue Friday.
Rudolph could be the second option in the passing game after
Percy Harvin this season as Christian Ponder has looked his way frequently this preseason.

J EROME S IMPSON
Simpson did not play in Friday’s preseason game as the Vikings wanted to give other players time with the first-team offense in anticipation of playing without Simpson during his three-game suspension, ESPN reports. No injury worries here. The receivers playing with Percy Harvin were underwhelming in Friday’s preseason game, which underscores how large a role Simpson may have when he returns from his suspension.

N ew England Patriots

Gerhart had six carries for 18 yards in Friday’s preseason game, but left in the first quarter to limit his workload, the Minneapolis Star
Tribune reports. Most of the Vikings starters played a full half, but the Vikings benched Gerhart early to play it safe with Adrian
Peterson coming back from a knee injury. Gerhart could begin the season as the primary ball carrier, but his amount of touches depends on how much work the Vikings choose to give Peterson early in the year.

Bolden carried six times for 32 yards and caught one pass for eight yards in Friday’s preseason game against the Bucs. Shane Vereen was injured in the game and if that ends up being something that forces him to miss any time, then Bolden’s chances of making the
Pats’ final roster just got better.

P ERCY H ARVIN

T OM B RADY

Harvin had two receptions for 53 yards in Friday’s preseason game.
Harvin had two big plays even in a game where the Minnesota

Brady completed 13-of-20 passes for 127 yards with a TD and a pick in Friday’s preseason game against the Bucs. Don’t be sur-

B RANDON B OLDEN

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prised if this is the last we see of Brady in the preseason. He’s healthy, and staying that way is all that he needs to do to maintain his status as an elite QB in both real and fantasy terms.

but his absence Friday opens the door for the Patriots’ depth wideouts to jostle for slotting.

D ANNY W OODHEAD
J ABAR G AFFNEY
Gaffney (right quad) was not spotted during warmups prior to
Friday’s preseason game against the Bucs, the Boston Globe reports. The Patriots have a pretty good book on Gaffney, but their wideout situation is crowded, so the sooner he can get back on the field the better, in terms of his job security.

R OB G RONKOWSKI
Gronkowski caught two passes for 24 yards with a TD in Friday’s preseason game against the Bucs. At this stage it’s no secret that
Gronkowski has established himself as an elite fantasy tight end.
His presence on the field Friday merely confirms his health, which was something that couldn’t be taken for granted in the wake of last season’s ankle woes and Monday’s (clearly precautionary) deactivation. Woodhead carried three times for 11 yards and caught one pass for nine yards in Friday’s preseason game against the Bucs. Woodhead is locked in as New England’s primary change-of-pace back, and while he’s good for the occasional explosive play, he’s tough to rely on on a weekly basis, given his (at times) sporadic touches.

N ew York Giants
A HMAD B RADSHAW
Bradshaw (hand) won’t play Friday against the Bears, Newark StarLedger writer Mike Garafolo reports. With Bradshaw sitting, rookie
David Wilson is drawing the start at running back for the Giants on
Friday.

D AVID W ILSON
A ARON H ERNANDEZ
Hernandez caught five passes for 52 yards in Friday’s preseason game against the Bucs. Hernandez was among the key Patriots who were rested Monday against the Eagles, but Friday’s effort confirms his health. While teammate Rob Gronkowski is an elite TE in his own right, the Patriots love to use their tight ends and
Hernandez’s superb pass-catching ability and run-after-the-catch skills ensure that he will see plenty of targets once again this season.

B RANDON L LOYD
Lloyd caught one pass for 12 yards in Friday’s preseason game against the Bucs. We wouldn’t worry too much about Lloyd’s modest preseason production. He’s penciled in as a starter (opposite
Wes Welker) in the Patriots’ dynamic passing offense. Production is bound to follow, as his chemistry with QB Tom Brady builds.

S TEVAN R IDLEY
Ridley carried 16 times for 87 yards with a touchdown, while catching three passes for 17 yards in Friday’s preseason game against the Bucs. It was a solid enough effort on Ridley’s part, but perhaps more importantly, at least if this turns into anything, is that fellow second-year back Shane Vereen (i.e. Ridley’s main competition for carries) suffered an apparent ankle injury in the game.

D ONTE S TALLWORTH
Stallworth caught three passes for 40 yards in Friday’s preseason game against the Bucs. While Stallworth is not a lock to crack the
Patriots’ final roster, he’s healthy right now, which is more than can be said about Jabar Gaffney, who is among his main competitors for slotting on the Patriots WR depth chart.

S HANE V EREEN
Vereen, who appeared to suffer an ankle injury in Friday’s preseason game against the Bucs, carried just twice for minus-three yards prior to leaving the game in the first quarter. It’s unclear as to how much, if any, time the injury will cause Vereen to miss, but any chance he had to gain ground on Stevan Ridley (16 carries for 87 yards) on Friday was stymied by his early departure.

Wilson had five carries for 49 yards and two catches for 26 yards
Friday night. The Giants like his combination of elite speed and tough running and should give him a role as Ahmad Bradshaw’s complement. N ew York Jets
S ANTONIO H OLMES
Coach Rex Ryan confirmed that Holmes (ribs) would see his first preseason action Sunday against Carolina, USA Today reports. The
Jets have sputtered offensively in the preseason, and having
Holmes in the lineup could inspire some more confidence going into the season for Mark Sanchez, who has had difficulty adjusting to a crop of largely new receivers. Even though the Jets figure to have a mediocre passing game, keep in mind that Holmes is the team’s clear No. 1 receiver, meaning he could still be a bargain if you can get him at a favorable spot in your draft.

J EREMY K ERLEY
Kerley (hamstring) will see his first action of the preseason Sunday against the Panthers, barring a setback, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. Santonio Holmes is expected back as well, which is hopefully a nice boost, given that the Jets’ offense has yet to post a touchdown so far this preseason. Assuming Kerley locks down a significant slot role for the Jets, he could achieve some relevance in
PPR leagues, but the team’s passing game has much to prove before we’d suggest targeting him aggressively, either late in drafts or as an in-season pickup.

J OE M C K NIGHT
McKnight (shin splints) is expected to play Sunday against Carolina,
Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports. Getting out there Sunday would no doubt be a good thing for McKnight, who is battling Bilal Powell for the Jets’ No. 2 RB job behind Shonn
Greene. Coach Rex Ryan has indicated that he won’t play his starters in the team’s preseason finale next week, so we could see the McKnight/Powell competition go down to the wire.

T IM T EBOW
W ES W ELKER
Welker (unspecified issue) was not spotted in uniform prior to
Friday’s preseason game against the Bucs, the Boston Herald reports. There’s no word yet on what, if anything is ailing Welker,

Neither Tebow or Mark Sanchez will play in next week’s preseason finale, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. As a result, the QB reps in that game will be split between Greg McElroy and Matt Simms.
While Sanchez is the team’s clear starter, it looks like the Jets plan
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to continue keeping the special formations that they have planned to utilize Tebow’s unique skill set under wraps.

O akland Raiders

first of the preseason. Despite Bryce Brown’s slightly better production on the ground (seven carries for 18 yards), Lewis appears locked in as the No. 2 back behind LeSean McCoy.

L E S EAN M C C OY

Ford (foot) could be ready for Week 1, the Oakland Tribune reports.
This is good to hear, but Ford struggled with foot issues last season, and is probably done for the preseason. A Week 1 return is certainly possible, but perhaps a bit on the optimistic side.

McCoy rushed one time for minus four yards while catching one of two targets for 11 yards in Philadelphia’s preseason victory at
Cleveland on Friday. As one of the premier running backs in the league, there’s little to gain for the Eagles in riding McCoy’s coattails in an ultimately meaningless exhibition. He remains one of the top options in fantasy for his solid two-way game.

D ARREN M C FADDEN

C HRIS P OLK

Oakland Tribune beat writer Jerry McDonald called McFadden the
Raiders’ most outstanding player in training camp. According to
McDonald, “with defenders not allowed to hit him low, and unable to unload on him high, he’s impossible to deal with on a practice basis.” With McFadden, as always, the trick will be staying healthy, but he appears to be in fine form right now and seems poised to start the regular season strong in his unquestioned role as the
Raiders’ top back.

Polk led the Eagles with 39 yards rushing on six carries (6.5 YPC) in the team’s handling of the Browns on Friday. Polk added one reception for nine yards to finish off the night. The undrafted free agent has an uphill battle in front of him, but Thursday’s preseason finale versus the Jets remains as he attempts to land a roster spot over more likely candidates in Bryce Brown (seven carries for 18 yards Friday) and Dion Lewis (five carries for four yards).

D ENARIUS M OORE

P ittsburgh Steelers

J ACOBY F ORD

Moore (hamstring) could be ready for Week 1, the Oakland Tribune reports. Moore’s status is still very much up in the air, but it’s good to know that he is at least being considered for Week 1. With both
Moore and Jacoby Ford (foot) dealing with injuries, Darius HeywardBey could see a ton of targets at the beginning of the season.

P hiladelphia Eagles
T RENT E DWARDS
Edwards completed 14-of-17 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown during the Eagles’ exhibition win over the Browns on Friday.
Edwards is battling Mike Kafka (hand) for the No. 3 quarterback gig and definitely helped his cause with Kafka sidelined. Still, it’s difficult to see Edwards earning a roster spot in camp after Kafka’s decent showing a season ago.

N ICK F OLES
Foles completed 12-of-19 passes for 146 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in Philadelphia’s preseason victory
Friday at Cleveland. Foles showed great poise in his first professional start in the absence of Michael Vick (ribs), bouncing back from an interception on his second attempt of the game to put up a very solid line. Overall, Foles has thoroughly impressed the coaching staff and his teammates alike during his first training camp, going 36-of-57 for 507 yards, six TDs, and two interceptions over three contests. If Vick was to miss any time this season due to injury, which is highly likely considering his past, Foles appears ready to fill in immediately and direct the offense effectively.

D AMARIS J OHNSON
Johnson racked up a team-high 58 yards on two receptions Friday as Philadelphia beat Cleveland. Johnson also returned four punts for 58 yards, including a long of 30 yards. He continues to earn his wings in multiple aspects of the Eagles’ scheme and may soon snag one of the final wideout roles for his flexibility.

D ION L EWIS
Lewis carried the rock five times for a meager four yards, but tallied two receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown during Philadelphia’s exhibition win Friday at Cleveland. Lewis’ first-quarter score was his

I SAAC R EDMAN
Redman, who has been bothered by a hip injury of late, is encouraged by the three pain-free workouts he went through this week, the Associated Press reports. “Actually, I thought I’d be a little sore this week from practicing,” Redman said. “I wasn’t sure how my body would react, but I don’t feel anything (painful) right now. I kind of feel like I never really injured it.”
As a result, Redman expects to see significant action in Saturday’s preseason game against the Bills. All this certainly sounds better than previous concerns that his hip injury could be a nagging issue, but it’s still a situation worth monitoring, since so often all it takes is a tweak to bring back the discomfort with such injuries.

M IKE W ALLACE
Wallace is not likely to be traded to Indianapolis, CBS Sports reports. With Austin Collie’s (concussion) status up in the air and former Steelers coordinator Bruce Arians now calling plays for the
Colts, the rumor mill was in full force. It certainly didn’t help that
Colts owner Jim Irsay tweeted that “serious trade winds are swirling,” but the Steelers have remained steadfast in their decision not to make Wallace available for trade. He should have two weeks to begin learning Todd Haley’s new offense, and be ready to go in Week 1 against the Broncos.

S an Diego Chargers
E DWIN B AKER
Baker lead all running backs with 13 carries for 35 yards in the
Chargers’ third preseason game at Minnesota on Friday night.
Baker was the most active and effective runner in a game that was played behind a patchwork offensive line, but the Bolts did not treat their third game as a dress rehearsal as most teams do. Philip
Rivers, Antonio Gates and others were held out of the game entirely, and Ronnie Brown, who is the presumptive top running back if
Ryan Mathews misses any game time early, was only given one early carry. The Chargers might obviously need some extra help at running back early in the season, so Baker has a chance to make the opening day roster, but he didn’t really do anything to vault himself up the depth chart in this game.
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J ACKIE B ATTLE
Battle had five carries for 10 yards in Friday night’s preseason game at Minnesota. Battle was one of the more active backs in the Bolts’ third preseason game, but it was a very sloppy game that was played behind an offensive line peppered with backups and without many key leaders including Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates. Battle is definitely in the mix to make the team and pitch in when the regular season begins, but he is not likely to have much upside with so many other backs seemingly ahead of him on the depth chart.

R ONNIE B ROWN
Brown had only one carry for six yards and one reception for eight yards in Friday night’s preseason game at Minnesota. Brown was not very active in this game, but keep in mind that the Chargers did not want to risk any additional injuries on an offense that has already taken some major hits. Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates were both held out of this game entirely even though they are both completely healthy. Unless we hear the coaches literally say otherwise, we are going to assume that Brown will be the top tailback behind the injured Ryan Mathews when the season begins.

A NTONIO G ATES
Gates won’t play in Friday’s preseason game against the Vikings, the North County Times reports. There’s nothing ominous going on here. Gates is reportedly as injury-free as he has ever been and the
Chargers are in no mood to jeopardize that this close to Week 1.
While Gates is clearly behind Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski on draft/auction boards, he remains an elite fantasy TE option when he is healthy, which he currently is, from all accounts.

L E ’R ON M C C LAIN
McClain had two rushes for four yards and one reception for 11 yards in Friday night’s third preseason game at Minnesota. McClain did not get many opportunities in this game, but neither did Ronnie
Brown, and in this case, lack of work might be a strong indication of the team’s desire to lean on these guys when the regular season begins. The Chargers simply can not afford to lose any more players on offense, and Brown and McClain figure to be the two most important backs if the season in fact begins with Ryan Mathews on the shelf. Other players will definitely chip in and help out, but for now, expect Brown and McClain to be on the field the most.

P HILIP R IVERS
Rivers will not play in Friday’s preseason game against the Vikings, the North County Times reports. Though the third preseason game is usually used by most coaches to give extended playing time to their starters, coach Norv Turner decided it wasn’t worth the risk for
Rivers to be in the game with three starters on the offensive line out with injuries. Instead, Charlie Whitehurst will make the start as he stakes his claim to the top backup role.

E DDIE R OYAL
Royal (groin) won’t play Friday against the Vikings, according to
Michael Gehlken of NBC San Diego. Royal has returned to practice and barring any setbacks, he is in line to serve as the Chargers’ top slot wideout, while also factoring in as a punt returner.

C HARLIE W HITEHURST
Whitehurst was 8-for-18 for 82 yards in Friday night’s preseason game at Minnesota. He did not throw any touchdowns or interceptions. Whitehurst played the entire first half and the first series of the third quarter as the Bolts elected to hold Philip Rivers out of the game as a precaution. Whitehurst was playing behind a patchwork offensive line that was missing three starters, and it showed, as he

was sacked five times and hit on several other plays. All things considered he played fairly well, and most importantly, he got out of the game healthy.

S eattle Seahawks
B RAYLON E DWARDS
Edwards caught one pass for 32 yards in Friday’s preseason game against the Chiefs. Edwards caught his only target of the game.
Terrell Owens made two catches, his first for the Seahawks. It seems unlikely the Seahawks will keep both Edwards and Owens.
Neither has really distinguished himself thus far, and the job could come down to the final exhibition game.

M ATT F LYNN
Flynn’s sore elbow might be more serious than first thought, the
Seattle Times reports. Flynn warmed up before Friday’s exhibition game but couldn’t throw the ball because of his elbow injury. Coach
Pete Carroll called it a “tendinitis-type of thing.” Russell Wilson’s impressive play Friday likely vaulted him ahead of Flynn for the starting quarterback job. If Flynn has a lingering elbow problem, that will make the quarterback decision even easier for Carroll.

TARVARIS J ACKSON
Jackson was 3-of-5 passing for one yard in his first action of the exhibition season for the Seahawks. Jackson, who entered in the third quarter, is on his way out of Seattle. Russell Wilson and Matt
Flynn will be the first two quarterbacks on the depth chart (order unknown), leaving the Seahawks free to deal Jackson if they can find a buyer.

M ARSHAWN LYNCH
Lynch (back) won’t play in Friday’s preseason game against Kansas
City, Josh Looney of the Chiefs’ official site reports. Look for
Robert Turbin to start in Lynch’s place Friday. Lynch has been dealing with back spasms this week, but so far there hasn’t been any discussion to the effect that it’s a major concern for him.

T ERRELL O WENS
Owens caught two passes for 41 yards in Friday’s exhibition game against the Chiefs. Owens was targeted three times, hauling in a nice 40-yard catch. Braylon Edwards, who has reportedly outplayed
Owens in practice, finished with one catch for 32 yards. The
Seahawks likely won’t keep both Owens and Edwards. The roster spot could come down to the team’s last exhibition game.

S IDNEY R ICE
Rice (shoulders) caught his first pass of the exhibition season
Friday. He only saw two targets, catching one pass for eight yards.
However, it was encouraging to see him back on the field after undergoing surgery to both of his shoulders this offseason. He remains a risky fantasy commodity given his injury history, but there is some upside here to be had if Rice can stay healthy.

G OLDEN TATE
Tate, who caught one pass for 14 yards, returned a punt return 92 yards for a touchdown in Friday’s exhibition game. Tate could start at split end for the Seahawks. It might be more by default than anything, though. Sidney Rice is at flanker with Doug Baldwin in the slot. Braylon Edwards and Terrell Owens are also in the mix for split end, though neither has distinguished himself yet. Tate is a decent punt returner, which gives him extra value in leagues that count individual special teams. He’s made progress this training camp,
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but he’s still more of an athlete than a receiver.

R OBERT T URBIN
Turbin rushed 14 times for 93 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s exhibition game against the Chiefs. Turbin, who started in place of
Marshawn Lynch, scored on a 25-yard run. Lynch’s sore back is not considered serious. Turbin, though, looks like a quality backup should Lynch miss any time with injury (or suspension). Kregg
Lumpkin won’t overtake Turbin for the backup job.

R USSELL W ILSON
Wilson completed 13-of-19 passes for 165 yards with two TDs, while rushing twice for 58 yards in Friday’s 44-14 win over the
Chiefs. Meanwhile, Matt Flynn didn’t play because of soreness in his elbow. For his part, Wilson’s continued sharp play seems to make him almost a no-brainer to be named the Seahawks’ Week 1 starter, but that’s still not something coach Pete Carroll is prepared to sign off on just yet.

K ELLEN W INSLOW
Winslow caught two passes for 23 yards and a touchdown in
Friday’s exhibition game against the Chiefs. The touchdown came on a wide-open 21-yard catch. The Seahawks have regularly targeted the tight-end position this preseason. Whether than holds in the regular season remains to be seen. Winslow is the top tight end and will get most of the looks. Zach Miller’s recent concussion makes
Winslow’s place even more safe.

S an Francisco 49ers

D ALLAS C LARK
Clark caught one pass (two targets) for 12 yards in the Bucs preseason victory over the Patriots Friday. Clark saw his most extensive action of the preseason so far Friday night, hence him finally recording a catch this preseason. If Clark can stay healthy in 2012 he could have a nice bounce-back season considering how much
QB Josh Freeman targeted his TE predecessor Kellen Winslow.

J OSH F REEMAN
Freeman completed 10-of-19 passes for 102 yards in Friday’s preseason game against the Patriots. Freeman connected with Vincent
Jackson three times for 49 yards and if the duo’s chemistry continues to build, it can only help Freeman bounce back from his 2011 regression, which saw him compile a 16:22 TD:INT ratio after recording a stellar 25:6 ratio in 2010.

V INCENT J ACKSON
Jackson had three catches on five targets for 49 yards in the Bucs preseason win over the Patriots Friday. Jackson and QB Josh
Freeman appeared to have a good connection going Friday which is promising for both players once the regular season starts.

D OUG M ARTIN
Martin carried 13 times for 53 yards with a TD and caught three passes for 12 yards in Friday’s preseason game against the
Patriots. Meanwhile, LeGarrette Blount carried seven times for 22 yards. While the burly Blount remains in the Bucs’ backfield mix and could still carve out a short-yardage role, it’s pretty clear that
Martin is the top gun here and he remains the upside play here in fantasy terms.

N AVORRO B OWMAN
Bowman missed practice again Thursday for undisclosed reasons and is now considered questionable for the upcoming exhibition game against Denver, CSNBayArea.com reports. Bowman appeared in the last exhibition game Saturday and practiced both
Monday and Tuesday, so evidently something happened to him late in Tuesday’s practice as he missed Wednesday. He had a wrist issue at the beginning of August so there is a possibility that he reaggravated that, but it’s all speculation at this point until the team discloses more information. Larry Grant will likely take his place for the upcoming Denver game.

T ED G INN
Ginn will earn a roster spot for his punt and kickoff return expertise, but still considers himself a wide receiver, CSNBayArea.com reports. Ginn is still listed on the 49ers depth chart alongside both
Randy Moss and Mario Manningham and should still see some work in the receiver rotation that coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman envision. However, his receiver work will undoubtedly be limited to the point where his fantasy value will be fairly low unless you get credit for return yards.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
L E G ARRETTE B LOUNT
Blount carried seven times for 22 yards in Friday’s preseason game against the Patriots. The minor groin issue that Blount suffered last week doesn’t seem to be a concern. What is, however, is that rookie first-rounder Doug Martin (13 carries for 53 yards) — who was
Friday’s starter — is emerging as the Bucs’ clear-cut top back.

Tennessee Titans
K ENNY B RITT
There is no timetable set for the NFL to determine whether or not
Britt (knee) will be suspended for his off-field issues, NFL.com reports. “There are no specific timelines for these cases,” according to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. “Each one is unique. When it’s done, it’s done and we announce something (or not).”
There’s plenty of speculation that Britt is in line for a short suspension, with the possible silver lining if that happens being that the wideout would have extra time to recuperate from his ongoing knee woes. On that topic, coach Mike Munchak noted last week that
Britt, at best, might be available for 10-15 snaps if he ends up being eligible to play in Week 1.

J ARED C OOK
Cook caught two passes for 40 yards, including a leaping 35-yard catch against the Cardinals in the third preseason game. Cook is an athletic tight end that has made several spectacular catches so far in his short professional career, but has yet to put up steady numbers that would qualify him as a top tier tight end. In 2011, he ranked second among tight ends with a 15.5-yard receiving average. In 2012, Cook should get steady playing time that should increase his total numbers.

C HRIS J OHNSON
Johnson carried 13 times for 27 yards in Thursday’s preseason game against the Cardinals. Johnson ran for 46 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries against Tampa Bay in the Titans’ second

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preseason game, but he struggled to rack up yardage Thursday.
He’s the team’s unquestioned starter, a plus in a league littered with committee backfields, but with questions remaining with regards to the Titans’ run blocking, Johnson will need to re-establish his trademark wheels in order to have the bounce-back season that many peg him for at age 26 (he turns 27 on Sept. 23).

K ENDALL W RIGHT
Wright caught four passes for 44 yards with a 10-yard TD reception in first quarter of Thursday’s preseason game against the Cardinals.
With Kenny Britt an early-season suspension candidate, as well as dealing with knee woes, there’s an opportunity out of the gate for
Wright, who the Titans obviously have big plans for in the long term, as evidenced that they took him 20th overall in the 2012 Draft.

J AKE L OCKER
Locker completed 11-of-20 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns in his first preseason outing since being named the Titans’
Week 1 starter. Locker had a strong outing Thursday after struggling in his last preseason game and looked as though he’s developed a solid rapport with rookie Kendall Wright, who caught four passes for
44 yards and a score.

M ARC M ARIANI
Coach Mike Munchak confirmed that Mariani required surgery to repair the broken leg that he suffered Thursday, Jim Wyatt of the
Tennessean reports. That’s a hit the Titans’ wideout depth and return game and the loss of Mariani makes clarification of Kenny
Britt’s situation all the more important for the team, as roster cuts loom. N ATE W ASHINGTON
Washington caught three passes for 39 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown pass in the Titans’ third preseason game. Washington is coming off a career year and also appears to have developed a solid connection with his new starting quarterback, Jake Locker.
Washington and Locker connected on three of Locker’s four touchdown passes last season, and has also connected for a touchdown pass in Locker’s first preseason game since being named the 2012 starting quarterback. With Kenny Britt still out due to a knee injury,
Washington is an intriguing player in most fantasy formats as a potential starting receiver.

W ashington Redskins
T IM H IGHTOWER
Even though Hightower (knee) is expected to play Saturday he probably won’t start, the Washington Post reports. Expectations should be tempered as he is still not 100 percent. The team pushed
Hightower this week and he responded well. It sounds like he is close to 100% and may be ready to start the season. He still has a chance to be the starting running back with Roy Helu (Achilles) and
Evan Royster (knee) expected to miss Saturday’s game.

A LFRED M ORRIS
Morris will get another extended look in Saturday’s preseason game as Evan Royster (knee) and Roy Helu (Achilles) will both sit. Morris will likely start the game before Tim Hightower (knee) sees some action, the Washington Post reports. Even with all the extra playing time it would be surprising if Morris replaced Hightower, Helu, or
Royster on the roster. He has not shown anything special yet.

E VAN R OYSTER
Royster (knee) seems to think he has a chance to play Saturday even after coach Mike Shanahan said he will sit, the Washington
Post reports. Royster will likely not play, but it’s encouraging that he thinks he could. Meanwhile, Tim Hightower (knee) is expected to play, which only clouds the Redskins’ backfield situation.

90

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