The problem is everyone reads these magazines and so in my opinion it doesn’t make those guys sleepers at all. A case in point was Ray Rice last year. Every magazine I picked up hyped him as the break out player. What I am going to give you is a list of late round sleepers that will be your 4th or 5th guy at that position and will be able to be picked in the late rounds.  But when they hit not only do you look awesome but you will be able to guide yourself to fantasy immortality.

Quarterback

Alex Smith (49ers): He has some viable weapons and has shown some improvement in the past years.  They will be a run heavy team but at the same time they will need to throw it around to make the playoffs.  Crabtree is poised to break out and Vernon Davis has already proven he has the ability to take over the game.  He will be available late in drafts and may not even be drafted in some leagues.  He will be a solid addition to any team.

Running back

Steve Slaton (Texans): He fumbles, I know, but when he is on the field he has made plays and he has great hands.  Many people will write him off because of the drafting of Ben Tate but I think that Slaton could be a surprise player.  He may not be the day one starter but the Texans need to win now and if Slaton gets the hot hand he will be getting the touches.  Another player that will be around late but is only one year removed from a top 10 fantasy performance.

Marshawn Lynch (Bills): Drafted C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson is the number one… I’m not buying it.  Spiller is a do it all player and will get his, but I just don’t think Jackson is that great.  Lynch has rushed for over 1,100 yards in 2 of his 3 seasons and still has some skills.  If there is an injury he could take the reins and never give them back.  I like him in the late rounds of redrafts, but I love him in dynasty leagues.

Wide receiver

Darrius Heyward-Bey (Raiders): He has a legit quarterback now and he has world class speed.  With the running game of Oakland he could see a lot of deep balls.  All the reports I am hearing out of Oakland is that the DHB in camp is not the same player that was in camp last year.  Take a chance on him; he could break out with Jason Campbell throwing the rock around this year.

Kenny Britt (Titans): Ok this might be one of the ones named in all the books but I am pretty high on him.  He has a good rapport with Vince Young and he has excellent size and speed.  With Chris Johnson killing it on the ground the air will be wide open.  Also he has great size to get the jump balls. Sorry if this is one of the guys mentioned by all those magazines but I couldn’t leave him out.

Anthony Gonzalez (Colts): I know Collie and Garcon both had good years, but Gonzo is still a legit player and he has more time with Peyton than the others.  If he comes out and plays well he could reclaim his spot in the rotation and become the top option people drafted him to be last year.

Tight end

Tony Scheffler (Lions): Brandon Pettiegrew is still a little banged up but it is fairly well known in Detroit that both players are going to be on the field.  Scheffler can play. He caught 90 balls in Denver in the Pre-McStupid era.  Also, Scheffler could see some time as the third wide receiver for Detroit.  If Pettiegrew suffers a setback Scheffler could get into the top 10 of fantasy tight ends.

Let me know what you think and let me know who your deep sleepers are.

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Quarterback

Joe Flacco: Flacco added a great receiving target in Anquan Boldin in the offseason, plus the deep threat ability of Donte Stallworth. Rookie TEs Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson also provide receiving depth behind Todd Heap. The reason I select Flacco is because he seems to be the forgotten man behind the Cutler’s and Kolb’s of the world.  He started off the 2009 season on a tear, but cooled off due to injury and the Ravens overemphasis on the run. Look for Baltimore to have a more balanced attack with Flacco leading the assault through the air. He reminds me of Philip Rivers just before he finally had his breakout season.

Running back

LeSean McCoy: McCoy will be getting all the snaps Westbrook received in 2009 along with his 2009 snaps.  You can also combine that to the fact Philly should run the football a little more in Kevin Kolb’s first year at the helm. That is a good recipe for some decent offensive numbers for McCoy. He is definitely my sleeper PPR running back must have.

Ben Tate: Tate really is not getting much love at all in the rankings released by Yahoo and other sites.  He will see most if not all of the first and second down carries and most of the short yardage and goal line carries. That should add up to a decent amount of yards and some significant touchdowns in Houston’s high octane offense. He is a sneaky pick you can get in the later part of your draft.

Wide receiver

Johnny Knox: Mike Martz’s “Diamond in the Rough” as Rotoworld puts it.  He is about the same size and height Torry Holt was when he excelled in Martz’s system with the Rams.  The Bears have no clear cut number one wide receiver going into the season, but I think Knox will time and time again establish himself as the main threat in the offense.  Aromashodu will probably be relegated as a possession type receiver.

Eddie Royal: Kyle Orton made a PPR star out of Brandon Marshall again last year.  No reason he couldn’t do the same for Royal this season.  I realize that Royal is no Brandon Marshall, but he is only one year removed from a 90+ catch season.  It’s also his “magical third year” in the league.

Tight end

Zach Miller: Miller performed well these past few years with JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski throwing the football.  Imagine what he can do with Jason Campbell, who has a penchant for making the tight end a Pro Bowl Player (Chris Cooley).

Kicker

Lawrence Tynes: Tynes was the Chinstrap Ninjas sleeper kicker pick last year and he performed admirably well.  The Giant defense should be healthier and better this year.  This should make shorter fields for the offense and more scoring opportunities for Tynes.

DEF/ST

Cincinnati Bengals: Yes the team once known as the “Bungles” has assembled a very stout defensive unit.  Getting Antwaan Odom back for a full season will greatly help that pass rush that was lacking somewhat in his absence.  Also Bernard Scott and Quan Cosby form a nice return tandem.  This is your best next to the last round draft pick defense to take.

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Take, for example, the Jets acquiring ultra-talented cornerback Antonio Cromartie for a third-round draft pick (it changes to a second-rounder depending on his playing time). Sure Cromartie has a host of off-field issues, but imagine if he can get his act together. Cromartie and Revis in the same defensive backfield?

News from last night also included word that the Bears are on the verge of signing free agent Julius Peppers. This after reports that Peppers would likely go to the Redskins.

Early reports already suggest that receiver Nate Burleson will be signing with the Lions as the No. 2 wideout. Allegedly, Chester Taylor looks close to signing with the Bears.

Free agency this year is marked by what will be an uncapped offseason. The ramifications of this are hard to gauge … opinions seem split on whether or not that will lead to wild spending by certain teams or if most squads will become more financially timid on the signing front.

Regardless, there are a slew of potentially major moves on the horizon. Here is a partial look at some of the main pieces that could be on the move starting today:

First, let me state that this post was oodles harder to write than my 2010 predictions post, where I included my opinions on where some big-named players may be traded this offseason.

Free agent signings, however, are so much more a crapshoot. There are tons of scenarios that could play out for each player … for each team.

To form the following predictions, I checked out several well-known websites, got a general feel of where guys may be signed and then factored in my gut. For those who missed it, ep pointed out recently that gut reactions actually hold some merit.

Running backs

Darren Sproles. The Chargers at first released Sproles, then tendered him for a first and third-round pick. However, many feel that Sproles will still be dealt for the right price. Allegedly, Sproles had trips lined up to visit with the Chiefs, Redskins, Eagles and Rams before the Chargers tendered him. Someone will be willing to spend the money, and we all know how Daniel Snyder likes to throw cash at players. It isn’t as though Clinton Portis has a whole lot left in his tank.

Thomas Jones. Many overlook how effective Jones was recently with the Jets. Recent news states that Jones could wind up back with the Jets, but I highly doubt they pay him the money he’s looking for. The Eagles, Lions, Chargers, Texans and slew of other squads are expected to make a mad dash for Jones’ services. The Eagles, Lions and Chargers are all front runners in my book. Flip a coin between them, although I’ll guess (note the word guess) that Jones lands in San Diego.

Chester Taylor. Few expect Taylor to return to the Vikings, making him a nice pickup for many despite his elevated age. Remember that his tires have plenty of tread after playing second fiddle to Adrian Peterson for quite some time. Taylor could be a starter on a number of teams. My gut reaction was that he would land with the Lions, start over Maurice Morris and ultimately plays thunder to Kevin Smith’s lightning when, and if, Smith returns to the field. However, late-breaking updates on ESPN radio have Taylor close to signing with the Bears, which will directly affect Matt Forte, among others.

Brian Westbrook. One of several older backs with declining skill sets, Westbrook was effective in spot duty with an impressive 4.5 yards-per-carry when he was in the backfield last year. Plenty of teams will be open to taking a chance on Westbrook. Several are saying that he’ll wind up in Minnesota. Recent reports say that he has no interest in playing on turf, leaving grass-field alternatives of Chicago, Pittsburgh and San Francisco who are actively looking.

LaDanian Tomlinson. There is little to get giddy over with Tomlinson’s rapidly declining skill set. In a normal offseason, Tomlinson could be facing few options, but that could be different during this uncapped year. It will take some time for Tomlinson to find an employer as he learns that his asking price will need to be adjusted and re-adjusted. The Eagles, Saints, Lions, Redskins, Texans and a few other teams have batted around the idea of snagging Tomlinson. Philly could be an intriguing option, if it wasn’t for my nagging suspicions that the Eagles make a move via trade for Marshawn Lynch.

Marshawn Lynch. He’s not a free agent, but he is unofficially on the trading block after teammate Fred Jackson outplayed him repeatedly in 2009. Lynch is young (just 23) and a big, bruising back who would compliment a smaller, shifty back like the Eagles’ LeSean McCoy quite nicely. Philly has a slew of quarterbacks while the Bills are in need of one. I still get this weird gut feeling that a trade will be developed here. Time will tell.

There are a few other backs of note who are currently restricted free agents, such as Ronnie Brown and Pierre Thomas. Considering their respective situations, I don’t expect either to move to a new team this offseason.

Wide Receivers

Terrell Owens. It’s hard to get excited about Terrell anymore. He was an also-ran in Buffalo, although shoddy QB play did factor in somewhat there. There are several teams that need some receiver help, such as the Ravens, Bengals and Dolphins. Too bad these teams and others are so actively saying they want no part of Owens.

Antonio Bryant. There is so much baggage surrounding Bryant during his career, but his age suggests that he could still produce somewhere if put in the proper situation. Other sites waffle greatly on where Bryant could/will wind up, although a couple mentioned the Redskins. Time will tell.

There are a few other unrestricted free agent receivers, but none that could provide instant fantasy upside in a new venue. These players include Kevin Walter, Derrick Mason, Chris Chambers, Torry Holt and Nate Burleson (although Burleson is allegedly signing with the Lions).

Restricted free agent receivers include a few more savory options. Vincent Jackson and Miles Austin are the biggest of these names, but as with the running back restricted free agent options, neither of these guys will likely be suiting up for a new team in the fall.

Several notable receivers will likely be moved this offseason. Anquan Boldin and Brandon Marshall highlight the list. Boldin could be had for a third-round pick, according to recent reports. Marshall was tendered for a first and third-round selection. I predicted a little while ago where these guys would wind up. Teams such as the Ravens, Dolphins, Bengals and Bears are all in the discussion (although the Bears don’t have a first-round pick, so they’d be limited to Boldin on this short list).

Quarterbacks

There are few big-named quarterbacks that will be moved this offseason. Those who do will likely be moved via trade. Players such as Donovan McNabb have come up in these discussions, and I cover my predictions on McNabb, specifically, here.

Restricted free agent QBs include Jason Campbell, Kyle Orton and Matt Moore, among others. All three will likely remain on their current teams. Of the three, Moore is looking like a very sneaky upside player for dynasty leagues, especially with word Thursday that Jake Delhomme was officially axed.

Chad Pennington heads the list of unresticted free agents, and several websites suggested he could wind up in Arizona backing up inconsistent Matt Leinart in the wake of Kurt Warner’s retirement. No such luck, though, as reports out of Miami have Pennington likely to resign with teh Dolphins.

Other unrestricted free agent QBs include David Carr, Chris Redman, Jeff Garcia, Rex Grossman, Daunte Culpepper, J.P. Losman and Kyle Boller. I don’t expect any to have fantasy value in 2010, shot of some horrific injuries.

What are your opinions of the current free agents? Where will they wind up? Did we forget to mention someone of interest to you? Let us know in the comments below.

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The Bears turnaround seemed to need it’s own post, similar to the Pete Carroll-Seahawks discussion.

However, once I set out on my quest for evidence to back up this argument I heard the disheartening sound of deflation.

Over three of the last four weeks — the last two were really great — Cutler looked like the former rising Broncos signal caller, not the 26 interception, 9 fumble Bears catastrophe from this year.

However, looking at the stats and the players who helped Cutler play well in three of the last four weeks, there were only two real strong trends — Devin Aromashodu and Cutler was still getting sacked on a regular basis.

Aromashodu had 22 of his 24 catches, 282 of his 298 yards and all four of his TDs in the last four weeks.

Meanwhile, the other parts of the offense were a mixed bag.

• Devin Hester only played in one game, but had three catches for 75 yards.
• Johnny Knox was good in the first game, sub-mediocre in the second and didn’t do anything in the final two.
• Greg Olsen had 11 catches for 163 yards and two scores over that stretch but really only took over in the final game when he had a 5-94-1 line.
• Earl Bennett was a bit player.
• Matt Forte was decidedly mediocre in every game except the last one.

What’s going on here is a lack of true wide receiver talent — i.e. no Brandon Marshall, for starters — and some serious offensive line issues.

Cutler was sacked 35 times in 2009. Even over those last four games he was dropped in the pocket nine times for a loss of 41 yards.

Say what you want about Mike Tice as an NFL head coach, but the Bears adding him as offensive line coach can’t make them any worse. He was Vikings offensive line coach from 1997-2001, when the Vikings offense was pretty special under Dennis Green.

If Tice makes some changes and fixes up what he inherits, it will benefit the Bears greatly in 2010.

Some player thoughts for 2010:

• Aromashodu should emerge as a significant fantasy presence
• Forte should benefit from improved line play and become a serious value in 2010.
• Cutler should be pressured less, meaning he’ll force fewer throws — be warned, he’s always had issues with picks (career TD/INT: 81/63) — meaning fewer mistakes overall.
• If Cutler and the line improve, it should mean more opportunities for Olsen, too.

Please note the liberal use of the word “should.”

We’ll have to tread through the offseason and the draft to see if Chicago addresses their lack of a playmaking wide receiver and to see what changes are made across the line.

If you were like me and thinking maybe Cutler was finally turning it around, reign in your wild imagination for a bit.

However, if you hear good things leaking from NFL Summer Camp and the Bears come out looking like a much-improved team in the 2010 preseason, don’t pass it off as preseason hype.

What do you think? Did Cutler turn the corner? Is there any chance you’ll pick him in 2010? Let us know in the comments.

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Now, I’m not ready to rank these players after one or two games, but it’s worth noting that they are playing themselves into increased opportunities through the final four weeks of the season – your fantasy playoffs – and into next year.

I’ve placed the players in three different categories, players to pickup, avoid and some wild cards.

Now, rules change for dynasty leaguers, because a year can make a big difference, just understand that players in the last two categories won’t be as helpful through the end of 2009.

We’ll start with…

Players that deserve consideration right now.

Pierre Garcon – The last two weeks he has proven that he is the next Reggie Wayne, surpassing Anthony Gonzalez in that regard with his performances. He went 6-136-0 with 10 targets this week.

Bruce Gradkowski – It really pains me to suggest picking up any Raider, but Gradkowski’s presence has changed this team. The new QB threw for 308 and three TDs with 0 interceptions against the Steelers defense. Gradkowski led the Raiders to victory against the world champion Steelers.

Louis Murphy – Another Raider, I know I’ll regret this, but Murphy caught four of his six targets, scored twice and finished with 128 yards.

Devin Thomas – The Redskins’ second-year receiver was targeted seven times, caught all seven and finished with 100 yards and two scores. He’ll be a starter in 2010, and be coveted in your draft.

Jerome Harrison – Yes, he had a good game earlier in the season and disappeared. But the news that Jamal Lewis is retiring at the end of the season means the Browns are going to need a starting back. Harrison only had 35 yards rushing on 10 carries, which isn’t particularly great, but he also was targeted 11 times, caught seven for 62 yards and two TDs while Cleveland tried to rally against the Chargers.

I’d stay away from..

Josh Freeman – Don’t throw him away in dynasty leagues, but Freeman is too volatile to help this year. The rookie could grow into a better QB, especially if Antonio Bryant can find a way to stay healthy. He threw for 321 Sunday, but the Panthers picked him off five times too.

I’m not sure about…

Evan Moore – The spot left vacant with Kellen Winslow’s departure may not be vacant for much longer. Moore was targeted 11 times and caught six of them for 80 yards. But he plays for the Browns, so there’s that.

Zach Miller – No, not the Raiders Zach Miller, the Jaguars’ rookie tight end. Hype surrounded him in the preseason, then he got hurt. But he caught three passes for 74 yards on Sunday. In dynasty leagues, try to get him now. Only waiver him if desperate in redrafts.

There are others – like Jets RB Shonn Greene and Eagles RB Eldra Buckley – who could continue their audition. Who else is ready to steal a starting role?

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Jeremy Maclin and Miles Austin didn’t just break out either, they blew up. Granted, they did it against the equivalent of junior high defenses, but their performances will go down as legendary breakouts.

Will they become dynasty studs? What about the aforementioned Rashard Mendenhall and Jerome Harrison? There are several other players with Week 5 implications you should be targeting in trades, picking up off waivers or considering as a potential keeper in the offseason.

Miles Austin – I let Austin sleep and he burned me. I don’t remember mentioning much of Austin during the preseason, ignoring him while I touted Patrick Crayton. Through the early part of the Cowboys game on Sunday, Crayton was the leading target. That changed quickly when Romo realized Austin’s talent.  He finished with 10 catches for a team-record 250 yards and 2 TDs. Austin was targeted 15 times and had a 60-yarder. Again, I say, it came against the Chiefs, but I’m still buying. He’s available in 63% of Yahoo leagues. Pick him up fast or trade for him. He’s a potential dynasty gem.

Jeremy Maclin – Hey, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are awful, but did you see the catches this rook made? He’ll be getting a lot more action for the rest of the season. He won’t be able to match his 6-catch, 142-yard, 2-TD game, but he and DeSean Jackson will give Eagles opponents more than they can handle. He’s available in 81% of Yahoo leagues and I’m buying him too. Another dynasty gem.

Rashard Mendenhall – Most backs not named LaDainian Tomlinson can’t go for 200 total yards every game, so it’s not surprising Mendenhall came back to Earth in Game 2. However, he did have a great 15-77-1 rushing line and had two catches for 16 yards. He’s definitely a dynasty keep and looks like a keeper in four- and five-keeper setups. It’ll be interesting to see how the Steelers use Willie Parker when he returns.

Jerome Harrison – He only ran for 21 yards on eight carries, a stark contrast to his Week 4 performance. Meanwhile, Jamal Lewis ran 31 times for 117 yards in his return. Is Harrison still a keeper in deep dynasty leagues? Absolutely. He’s shown as much as Darren McFadden has, and you didn’t think about throwing him back last year, right? I think I just insulted Jerome Harrison by comparing him to McFadden. And I definitely just insulted Darren McFadden. McFadden, I hate your face.

Ahmad Bradshaw – Go, overpay for Bradshaw now, make him a (insert your team name here) because you want him on your roster for the next five years. You know who he reminds me of? Tiki Barber. The dominant, end-of-career Tiki Barber, not the early fumble-fumble-fumble Tiki. He’s catching passes (1 for 55!) he’s running with authority despite his small stature (11-110) and he’s scoring TDs (2). Yes, Jacobs will steal some carries, but Bradshaw is the horse in New York. He’s just a more exciting thoroughbred, to Jacobs’ Clydesdale.

Mohamed Massaquoi – After his paltry 1 catch for 16 yards on six targets, if you make a hasty move to dump Massoquoi I’m not going to try to convince you otherwise. If you can swap Massquoi for Maclin or Austin, do it. Now. Massaquoi has talent – all NFL players do – but we might not know how much until the Browns trot out a real NFL quarterback. Derek Anderson was a JaMarcus-esque 2-for-17 for 23 yards and an interception. Is he a dynasty keeper? In deep leagues, yes. If you have position-specific keeper limitations, you probably have better options and can get him in your draft next year.

Tashard Choice – Marion Barber was back, so I removed Choice in a league and started Barber in another league. Bad idea. It appears as though the Cowboys have something going like the Giants. Choice (or maybe Jones when he gets back?) is going to have only 10 carries, but do more with it than Barber. On Sunday, Choice went 8-92 with a TD and Barber went 15-53. Now, 15-53 isn’t bad, unless you consider it came against the Chiefs, and that his teammate did more with much less.

Percy Harvin – I said to temper expectations until he shows us more in the yardage department. He didn’t score a touchdown on Sunday and had four catches for 66 yards. It was hardly a banner day. However, he made a catch along the sideline, made some moves, broke some tackles and in the process impressed the hell out of me. I’m not going to hurry out and get him, but if an opportunity arises for me to acquire him in a dynasty league, I will do it.

Michael Bush – Had 12 carries for 37 yards and a touchdown. As much as I hate McFadden, the Raiders are in such a shambles that nobody is a good play. Coaches are punching each other, JaMarcus Russell is just all kinds of awful. Bush is a good talent, but depending on how deep your league is, he is not a strong dynasty option only because we don’t know how long Raiderfunk lingers.

Steve Smith/Hakeem Nicks/Mario Manningham – Oh, this situation is a fantasy plague along the lines of the RBBC. Steve Smith only had three catches this week, but led the team with 70 yards receiving. Mario Manningham, the other receiver stud, had a TD but only 2 catches on 3 targets and 36 yards. Meanwhile, the dark horse in this race, Hakeem Nicks, had the most targets (6) and catches (4) to go along with 49 yards and a TD. Not every opponent is going to offer opportunities like the Raiders, but this is clearly at least a three-man race. It’s great for the Giants, but not so great for fantasy players. If I was betting $100 on these guys, I’d put $50 on Steve Smith, $17 on Hakeem Nicks, $16 on Mario Manningham, $5 on Sinorice Moss and save $12 for some guys we haven’t seen yet, or the Chinese buffet, whichever comes first.

Roddy White – If you didn’t trade for the 2005 first round pick last week, youaintgettinim. Dude looked like Miles Austin out there. He had eight catches, 210 yards, two TDs and 10 targets. Despite his lack of production, he’s been one of the most targeted receivers in 2009. Like TJ Houshmandzadeh, those targets are finally turning into fantasy production.

Ray Rice – Rice hasn’t given owners much of a reason to not keep him, so that’s not an issue here. What I want to discuss is his ceiling. I have a feeling we still don’t really know how good Rice can be. He had 69 yards rushing on 14 carries and 74 yards receiving on seven catches. He was second on the team with eight targets.

Brandon Marshall – Last week, I said Marshall was going to be a decent play for the rest of the season and he didn’t disappoint against the Patriots – eight catches, 64 yards and two TDs. Marshall is an example of how one player can singlehandedly change the fantasy fortunes of his teammates. Eddie Royal had 10 catches for 90 yards and was targeted 15 times and Kyle Orton had 330 yards passing with two TDs.

Austin Collie – Collie had eight catches for 97 yards and 2 TDs for the Colts. His opponent in the battle for being the next Reggie Wayne (which was Anthony Gonzalez’s title before he got hurt, and might still be his when he gets back), Pierre Garcon, had one catch for nine yards. As much as I touted Garcon, we’re looking at another situation like the Giants. The difference here is that Peyton is going to throw a lot more than Eli, so the Colts receivers will have more value.

Justin Gage – Had 1 catch for seven yards on seven targets. You don’t want him on your regular season roster, let alone on your list of keepers. Why is he getting play in the dynasty-themed Day of Reckoning? Because I like to kick Justin Gage when he’s down.

What was your surprise of the weekend? Targeting Austin (Collie or Miles)? Maclin? Let us know in the comments.

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I’m not going to guarantee all of these guys will be available, but some should. And I’m not going to recommend any player after one good game, but there are some worth grabbing and stashing, if not grabbing and starting.

Mohamed Massaquoi – Huge game – eight catches for 148 yards – but, more importantly, even huger targets (13). Derek Anderson is the quarterback for now. Remember how much he zoned in on Braylon Edwards in 2007? I’m not saying Massaquoi is that guy, but after one game it sure looks like it. I will take a shot on him in any league where I have space. If nothing else the Browns are going to throw a lot because, well, they’re the Browns.

Austin Collie-Pierre Garcon-Anthony Gonzalez – This three-headed monster is going to be a terror for opposing defenses and fantasy owners – both the ones starting them and the ones playing against them. How do I think this will all shake out? There will be no way to determine which of these guys breaks out game to game. There’s enough passes flying that two of these guys should be decent plays every week. I’m going to say Garcon and Gonzalez have more great days than Collie, even though Collie’s got plenty of skills. I own Reggie Wayne, Gonzalez and Garcon in one dynasty league. Insane? Yes, but I have a feeling one of these four starter-worthy receivers isn’t playing for the Colts in 2010.

Hakeem Nicks – Had one catch, but it was a 54-yarder for a TD. Like the Colts situation, there are a lot of options for Manning – or if his plantar fasciitis is too bad, David Carr. This is Steve Smith’s show until further notice, but Nicks has physical skills like Manningham does. There are worse No. 5 fantasy receivers on rosters right now.

Sean Ryan – The Chiefs need a replacement for Tony Gonzalez – an ohmygodohmygodhearcomestherushbetterdumpitoff-type TE. Ryan fits the mold, at least he did Sunday catching five of seven targets for 58 yards and a TD. If you are required to keep a second TE, or if Anthony “you’re dead to me” Fasano is your starter, take a flyer on Ryan. Do you waste your waiver position on him? Not unless you’re desperate.

Cadillac Williams – Saw him available on a couple free agent wires last week. He shouldn’t be available anywhere, especially not with Derrick Ward banged up.

Marcedes Lewis – David Garrard’s been tossing the ball around quite a bit and Lewis impressed with a 4-76-1 game last week. Like Ryan, if you are trotting out a turd you hate every week, Lewis might not be a bad option. Not sure I’d waste a waiver on him though.

Kenny Britt and Nate Washington – I doubt Britt (7-105, 11 targets) is available in your league. Washington (7-66-1) might be. Neither one is going to be huge every week, but the Titans aren’t that good this year and may have to rely on the pass more. Notice how I didn’t include Justin Gage in the discussion until now, there’s a reason for that.

Justin Fargus and Michael Bush – Maybe with McFadden injured, you think, they’ll use Bush and Fargus more. Until further notice you don’t want any Raiders on your roster. I still believe Bush and McFadden have talent, but they are surrounded by talentless hacks and suffer because of them.

Kyle Orton – He’s more than likely not available in a lot of leagues, but with the apparent arrival of Brandon Marshall, Orton gains quite a bit of value. He threw for 243 and 2 TDs last week. He’ll be low-level fantasy starter every week if Marshall is, in fact, back.

Mewelde Moore – Had an interesting line on Sunday – 3 catches, 31 yards and a TD, 2 rushes for 2 yards, and was 1-for-1 throwing the ball for a 6-yard TD. Once Willie Parker comes back, I’m afraid we’re looking at a potential three-headed monster in Pittsburgh. However, Moore is a strong 3rd-down back and his TD pass (with some great velocity I might add) won’t go unnoticed by the Steelers brass. I wouldn’t ransom your team for him, or drop a player with upside (like Rashard Mendenhall or Jerome Harrison before this week), but if you’ve got someone just taking up a roster spot, Moore is a better option.

JerMichael Finley – Probably not available in your dynasty league, but Finley is a solid dynasty-type tight end ready to produce now. He had six catches (on seven targets) for 128 yards and a TD to lead Green Bay Monday night. There was much hype surrounding the rookie in the preseason, calling him one of those TEs with receiver speed. Like I said a couple updates above, many of us have worse options with less upside on our rosters. Now’s the time to change that.  I will try to waste waiver position on him.

Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice – Again, Berrian’s probably not available to you, but Rice might be. Teams have been slowing down Adrian Peterson – the Packers downright stopped him – the last couple of games. Favre is beating them by throwing the ball. So Berrian is definitely worth owning and Rice may be too as a No. 5 receiver. I wouldn’t waste a high waiver priority on Rice, but wherever Favre has been, he has turned mediocre receivers into decent receivers. Percy Harvin will be part of the mix, but the targets Monday night read like this: Berrian 10, Rice 6, Chester Taylor 5, Harvin 2 – the same as Jeff Dugan and Naufahu Tahi. There’s no reason Harvin should be owned and Rice, a third-year receiver, should be available.

Ryan Moats – Steve Slaton owners, you want to get Moats as your handcuff. I’ve stayed away from handcuffs this year, but Slaton hasn’t been super and Moats was 2008-Slaton impressive in limited work Sunday.

Shonn Greene – This one is coming folks. Thomas Jones did score a TD, I predicted he’d have 100 yards too, but that didn’t happen. Leon Washington has been meh-ish, too. Sooner rather than later, we’ll see if the Michigan State rookie will become the feature runner the Jets envisioned when they drafted him. If you have room, I’d stash Greene like we all should have stashed Rashard Mendenhall and Jerome Harrison.

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