We didn’t want to leave anything to chance, and figured the more input we got from different perspectives, the better overall decisions we could make on one of the biggest investments of our lives.

So, why would you draft a fantasy baseball team without getting multiple opinions?

Going into your draft with a cheatsheet based off one website’s rankings, opinions and analysis is like going into battle with just one other person covering your back. I’d much rather have a collaborative opinion on who the best players are at each position.

So, below you’ll find the first of a series of composite rankings, which factor in lists and projections from some of the most revered fantasy baseball sources in the business.

The closer rankings below are a composite of rankings provided by Fanball, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, ESPN and Yahoo (which itself is a composite ranking of all four fantasy writers in the organization). I’ve included in parenthesis with each player the overall composite score and some feedback.

2010 Closers Composite Rankings

*1. Joe Nathan, Minnesota (6 pts). Notice the asterisks before Nathan’s first overall ranking? No, he wasn’t caught with the sauce in his system … he instead is facing a serious injury sustained recently during spring ball. He has a torn ligament in his elbow. The Twins are waiting two weeks for the swelling to go down before deciding what to do … but there is a good chance he could need season-ending surgery. Be sure to watch the situation closely, especially if your draft is sometime in the next several weeks.

2. Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles Dodgers (9). At 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, Broxton intimidates batters before he ever throws a pitch. He has lived up to several years worth of hype in the Dodgers system that he’d be the closer of the future, and there is no reason to think he’ll slow down anytime soon.

3. Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees (14). Very few have accomplished what Rivera has done during his career. Many would assume that the loaded Bronx lineup would negate many close game opportunities that Rivera would face on a lesser club. Not so. He continues to plug along onne of the most prolific clubs in baseball. At some point he’ll break down, but for now you have to ride the reputation he has built for himself.

4. Jonathan Papelbon, Boston (18). The last of four closely-scoring players at the top of the closer ranks, Papelbon has become a force for the Red Sox. He has saved at least 35 games in each of the last four seasons and during three of those campaigns, he has finished the season with an ERA below 2.00. You can’t ask for much more.

5. Joakim Soria, Kansas City (30). One would think that the Royals wouldn’t provide a whole lot of winning opportunities for Soria, but he continues to produce even after a shoulder injury scared off many of his fantasy supporters last year. His increasing strikeout totals signal continued good things to come from one of just a few worthwhile fantasy options on the Royals roster.

6. Heath Bell, San Diego (38). Stepping into the colossal shoes left by future hall of famer Trevor Hoffman, Bell was incredible. He saved 12 more games than Hoffman did in 2008, while compiling a 2.71 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, all on a team that has historically underachieved.

7. Andrew Bailey, Oakland (42). Call him opportunistic, Bailey made the most of his situation last year filling in for the injured Joey Devine and faltering Brad Ziegler by producing top-flight production at a waiver wire price. He had the best WHIP of all closers who saved at least five games and his second-half stats were markedly improved from the first half.

8. Francisco Rodriguez, New York Mets (45). K-Rod was a dominant closer for years with the Angels and posted his fifth consecutive season of 35 or more saves in his first campaign last year with the Mets. However, Rodriguez’s 35 saves were the lowest he’s produced in quite some time (coming off 62 in 2008, 35 is a stark dropoff). Much of his dropoff could be attributed to an injury-ravaged and underachieving Mets lineup. The rest to a quietly diminishing skill set that saw him post career-worst K/9, BB/9 and WHIP. K-Rod presents some definite risk, in my humble opinion.

9. Brian Wilson, San Francisco (52). Some may look at the slight drop in overall saves Wilson compiled in 2009 over 2008 (38 to 41) and think there is room for concern. However, Wilson was much more improved last season than what his end-game saves indicate. He struck out well over a batter an inning, allowed just three home runs all season and saw his ERA drop from 4.62 in 2008 to 2.74 in 2009.

10. Francisco Cordero, Cincinnati (57). In his second season with the Reds, Cordero recorded five more saves and an impressive 1.17 drop in his ERA. However, I’m a little concerned about his gradual, yet noticeable drop yet again in strikeouts … from 86 in 2007 with the Brewers to 78 in 2008 with the Reds and 58 last season.

11. Jose Valverde, Detroit (59). He missed more than a month with a calf injury, but was en fuego upon returning with a 1.64 ERA and 17 saves after the All-Star break. Not many other closers could match those numbers, and they were with the lowly Houston Astros. Now with a vastly improved supporting cast in Detroit, Valverde could find his way up these rankings fairly quickly if he can stay healthy.

12. Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs (60). If you know nothing else about Marmol, know that he has averaged 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings over the past three seasons. His stuff is just downright wicked. He just needs to keep his pitches over the plate and not a foot out of the strike zone. If he can harness his abilities, 2010 could be a nice breakout platform for the Cubs closer.

13. Trevor Hoffman, Milwaukee (63). One of the truly amazing players at this position … he continually cheats Father Time. He easily posted three-year lows in ERA and WHIP last season with the Brewers, while recording a three-year high in strikeouts. That’s without factoring in the vastly improved lineup he has behind him in Milwaukee vs. those he had in San Diego in 2007 and 2008. It would be easy to look at Hoffman’s age (42) and wave red flags, but it is just impossible to look past what this future hall-of-famer has accomplished lately.

14. Huston Street, Colorado (70). Compare Street’s 2008 season with the A’s with his campaign in 2009 with the Rockies, and you’ll notice an improvement across the board in saves, WHIP, ERA and strikeouts. The only concerning factors with Street include an inflated home run rate and injury questions. If he can keep himself on track, there is no reason to think that Street won’t continue to provide some decent numbers.

15. Brian Fuentes, Los Angeles Angels (72). In one season with the Angels, Fuentes nearly matches his combined save totals from 2007 and 2008 with the Rockies (48 in 2009, 50 the other two seasons). But a word of caution … Fuentes also recorded his worst ERA and WHIP since 2004 and had a career-low strikeout rate of 7.5. Add in that the Angels took some steps backward in personnel this offseason, and it is pretty likely that Fuentes may see a backslide, at least somewhat, in numbers in 2010.

Others just missing the cut: David Aardsma, Frank Francisco, Bobby Jenks, Brad Lidge, J.P. Howell, Rafael Soriano, Billy Wagner.

Be sure to check out the closer value players mentioned here.

What are your opinions of the top 15 closers in 2010 fantasy baseball circles? We’d love to hear your comments below!

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Latest big news today was the two-year deal that Thomas Jones signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.  All of those fans that thought Jamaal Charles was a 1st round pick RB are collectively sighing and wailing.  Charles really moves down in the pecking order with Thomas Jones in tow as the other RB.  Or maybe Charles is the other RB.  This move also positively impacts Shonn Greene as he knows now he will get the bulk of the carries for the run first Jets.

Seneca Wallace was traded to the Cleveland Browns.  With Derek Anderson’s release and Seneca’s knowledge of Holmgren’s West Coast Offense, I look for Seneca Wallace to contend with if not beat out Brady Quinn for the starting QB job.

Other free agent news:

Dunta Robinson signed a 6 year deal with the Atlanta Falcons.  Atlanta hopes that the move solves some of their cornerback woes.  I doubt that it will.

Antrel Rolle signed a 5 year deal with the NY Giants.  This I feel is a positive move for the Giants and solidifies a weak area of the defense last year.  If Kenny Phillips can return healthy this year, they could be much improved in the secondary in 2010.

Justin Fargas released by the Oakland Raiders.  This move effects Darren McFadden and Michael Bush in that the time share will only be two backs instead of three in 2010.

Kevin Walter resigned a 5 year deal with the Texans.  He is a low WR3 or high WR4.  Everyone can now cross Jacoby Jones off of the list as a sleeper pick in 2010.

The Antwaan Randle El and Arnaz Battle signings by Pittsburgh probably signal the end of Limas Sweed’s career there.

Chris Chambers signed a 3 year deal to remain with the Kansas City Chiefs.  Chambers played well and had a good connection with Matt Cassel down the stretch of the 2009 season.  It remains to be seen if that can be continued in 2010.

David Carr was signed as a backup by the 49ers.  This deal more than likely puts an end to Shuan Hill’s tenure as an NFL quarterback.

Jason Avant resigned with the Eagles for 5 years.  He really does not have much of a fantasy impact, as even though he is the 3rd receiver, he is probably 4th or 5th in the pecking order behind Brent Celek and LeSean McCoy to get the football.

Marcus Mason formerly of the Redskins was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Chargers.  Any move that the Chargers make at running back must be monitored closely as the position is still wide open at this point.

Reggie Brown was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Tampa needs a lot of help at WR.  But trust me after watching this guy play as an Eagle for many season, I have no idea why anyone would feel he is an upgrade.  He was given numerous shots to take over a WR position in Philly and failed to do so every time.  

Aaron Kampman was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars to provide some type of pass rush.  The team desperately needs sack help as they only registered 14 as a team all last season.

Terrell Owens has been mentioned by both Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco as a possible Bengal next year.

Antonio Bryant will also be paying a visit to Cincinnati and has also been rumored with Miami as well.

LaDainian Tomlinson has recently been connected as a substitute for Chester Taylor’s loss in Minnesota.

It’s anyone’s guess where Brandon Marshall might be playing in 2010.  He left Seattle without striking a deal.  It could be a long drawn out process for him.

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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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You ain’t seen nothing yet.

We’re on the verge of experiencing something truly amazing in 2010 and beyond. There’s a new stable of able running backs in the NFL, and you can thank an opportunistic bunch of rookie 2009 backs for giving us what will be quite a good show in the coming months and years … and for giving us something to debate right now.

So, which of the the following young backs will be the next elite fantasy force? Let the debating begin …

First, let’s look at the candidates.

Knowshon Moreno, Denver. Given the clearest path to fantasy relevance, Moreno was solid during the 2009 campaign. He produced the most yards rushing of all the rookie backs in 2009 (965) along with touchdowns (7). He also has a great chance of keeping his job. Correll Buckhalter isn’t a major threat for carries in that offense, and regardless of coach Josh McDaniels’ history of RBBCs, there is no indication that the Broncos are actively looking for another back. The biggest knock against Moreno was his yards per carry, which hovered around 4 all season (including 2.7, 2.2 and 2.0 performances in weeks 14, 15 and 16, respectively) and finished at 3.8. Some question Moreno’s explosiveness and homerun threat capabilities.

Beanie Wells, Arizona. Stuck behind over-achieving Tim Hightower through the first half of the season, Wells started to come on strong as the season progressed. He finished the year with a 4.6 yards per carry total in regular season games and a rookie-RB best eight touchdowns. He produced 861 yards rushing during the regular season on 193 carries. It was apparent that Wells has taken the starting job and doesn’t plan to look back. Beanie isn’t as big a threat in the passing game as others on this list and does have a history of injury concerns, although he had no trouble avoiding the IR in his first pro season.

LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia. Out of all the rookie backs in 2009, McCoy easily led the pack in receptions (41) and receiving yards (347). Both are indicative of what McCoy could do in a system known for utilizing a receiver out of the backfield. He also rushed for 664 yards and four touchdowns on 161 carries in 2009. In the six games where LeSean replaced an injured Brian Westbrook as the primary starter, he averaged 12.45 fantasy points and scored three touchdowns. Westbrook was recently released into free agency, paving the way for McCoy to emerge as a starting option at the moment, but there are numerous whisperings out of the City of Brotherly Love that the Eagles will be actively shopping for a veteran RB and depending on who they import, McCoy’s value could swing drastically on this list and overall.

Shonn Greene, New York Jets. Greene’s 304 yards on 54 carries and two touchdowns in three playoff appearances turned the collective head of fantasy owners everywhere, but Greene was successful well before that. He averaged over five yards per carry during the regular season, with 636 yards rushing during that span. That was all while Thomas Jones was sharing carries. Jones will not be back in Jetsland in 2010, opening up the doors for potential eliteness by Mr. Greene.

Felix Jones, Dallas. OK … he wasn’t a rookie in 2009, but Jones qualifies for this list because he’s in the same age bracket (same age as McCoy and Moreno, two years younger than Greene and one older than Beanie), he has taken over as his team’s probably starting back in 2010 and … well … this is my list and I can do whatever I want. Jones averaged a full yard per carry more than anyone else on this list during the regular season and was electric in the playoffs (217 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries … a whopping 7.2 yards per carry). Due to a declining skillset by Marion Barber and Jones’ playoff breakout, it is safe to assume that he’ll receive the lion’s share of carries in 2010, and could be golden if he can avoid the injury bug that has struck at times during his career.

So, we have five exceptionally talented young backs … all with potential to become something great in the NFL. All, amazingly enough, have found themselves in the fast lane to becoming their teams’ respective starting RB in 2010 and beyond.

But two questions remain … which has the best chance of becoming an elite fantasy RB and how many of these players will be top-flight stat options during their careers?

LeSean McCoy has the potential to be a big asset, especially in PPR leagues, however, I believe he will find himself in an RBBC quicker than any of these other options. The Eagles are looking at a wide variety of available talents, including Chester Taylor, Thomas Jones, LaDanian Tomlinson and others. They may even snag a bigger back in the draft and there have been strong rumors that they’ll pursue highly talented, yet highly troubled Marshawn Lynch out of Buffalo. None of this bodes well for McCoy, who was decent while replacing Westbrook in 2009, but not as dazzling as many expected or hoped for.

Knowshon Moreno is, at the moment, the leading horse in this discussion simply because he has more playing time under his belt than most of the guys on this list and should remain the unquestioned starter on his team. However, many expected Matt Forte to be the class of the 2008 rookies last season as a sophomore, and he was less than stellar. The one stat I can’t let go with Moreno was his yards per carry … which was easily the worst of the five on this list.

Shonn Greene is quickly moving up the dynasty rankings thanks to Jones’ impending release and hype surrounding his impressive playoff performances. What many people overlook with Greene that he recorded zero receptions … that’s right, none … during the entire regular season. Sure, Michael Turner was able to produce without being a major piece of the receiving game for the Falcons in 2008 and, when not injured, in 2009. However, his ceiling would be so much higher if he was also a part of the pass-catching option. I see Greene as the next Michael Turner from a receptions and overall upside standpoint. Greene will be elite, but not a top one or two-type fantasy back.

Felix Jones has yet to be a primary back for a full season in the NFL and has suffered injuries each season even in smaller roles. The sky is the limit for Jones if he can avoid missing time … it is just hard to project that over a full season. Still, his incredible yards per carry are impossible to ignore, and I fully expect Jones to be an elite fantasy back sooner or later depending on how he’s used and if the Cowboys can keep Jones fresh. With Barber and Tashard Choice at their disposal, the Cowboys shouldn’t be hard-pressed to keep Jones on the field more than off it. This is why I predicted Jones could be the 2010 version of Ray Rice in my super-sleepers post.

This leaves Beanie Wells, who may not be an elite receiving option, but definitely does enough in the passing game to reach a higher level of play in his NFL career than the Michael Turners or Shonn Greenes. Removing his six-for-19 performance in spot duty in week 17 against Green Bay, Beanie was an impressive 114-for-602 in weeks seven through 16 if you take out his weeks 12 and 13 games against run-stingy Tennessee and Minnesota – that’s 5.3 yards per carry during most of that stretch. He scored six TDs in the final seven regular-season games that counted for anything. In reading commentary at numerous sports and fantasy-related websites about all of those on this list, Beanie Wells got the best overall vibe, including one site, which said that he’s 90 percent of Adrian Peterson. Some point to a questionable injury history for Beanie, but he did stay healthy against some of the best defenders in the NFL during the second half of the season and has more of a chance of completing a full 16-game slate than Felix Jones, in my opinion.

So, if I had to gamble on which of these five young studs will be the next super-fantasy commodity, I’d place my money on Wells, although that could change at a moment’s notice depending on how other situations play out.

And out of the group, I see Greene, Jones and Wells being the three who will become potential top-five fantasy RBs at some point during their careers.

Want more running back discussion? Check out my early 2010 dynasty RB rankings here.

What is your opinion? Which of these guys will be the next elite fantasy option? We’d love to hear your opinion in the space below.

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It was 12-year-old who had just finished using a Coleman propane cook stove. Within seconds of turning it off, he decided to touch the burner, jumping back and screaming in pain a split second later.

A Scout leader ran over to console the crying kid, asking what happened.

The 12-year-old says, “I did this,” and put the same hand back on the hot burner.

Stupidity, some say, is defined by doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

So I wonder why I keep drafting Kansas City’s talented yet consistently underachieving Alex Gordon as a sleeper third baseman every year, it seems, since the dawn of time.

And the sad thing is, I’ll be looking to draft him again this year — along with these guys (check out my sleeper picks at catcher, first base and second base, as well):

Alex Gordon has burned plenty of fantasy baseball managers, and will be bypassed by many in your respective drafts, for good reason. Ep is one who plans to avoid Gordon in 2010. However, based on talent alone, he may be falling far enough in most drafts to have value. Many projected him as a sleeper last season and he quickly disappointed with a .095 batting average through April before surgery to repair a tear in his right hip cartilage. He was back in July, but struggled and was demoted to the minors. At that point, Gordon totally fell off most people’s radar … and there’s a good chance that your leaguemates may have missed his .280 average with three homers and 11 RBI in the final month of the season. Not stats to get super-giddy about, but if Gordon follows through with excessive weight training this preseason like he promised at the end of the 2009 campaign, he may be able to tap into the vast potential that saw him drafted second overall in 2005. Not saying you should draft him as your starting third baseman, but somewhere in the last two rounds as a guy who could surprise with around 20 homers and double-digit steals if the planets align.

Jake Fox, now with the Oakland Athletics, is another player with lots of potential … enough so that ep had Fox on his radar five months ago.  Fox destroyed Triple-A competition last year with the Cubs to the tune of .409 and 17 homers in just 45 games. He fared well in spot duty in the majors, but was buried beneath Aramis Ramirez on the depth chart. His trade to Oakland will provide the extra playing time he needs to excel, and as an extra bonus, Fox is eligible at OF as well as 3B in 2010 (although his value will be at third). He’s a player worth taking a risk on late in your draft.

Gordon Beckham will technically play second base this season for the White Sox, but will still be eligible at third. One of the most valuable mid-season pickups for fantasy owners in 2009, Beckham’s 14 home runs surprised even the most optimistic of projectionists. He does not have a track record of going deep and lacks a true power swing, but Beckham still easily could provide a 20/10 (HR/SB) campaign in 2010 … putting him in decent company among third basemen.

Ryan Zimmerman plays for the Nationals, but he doesn’t show it. One of just a few bright spots for Washington in 2009, Zimmerman showed plenty of power ability with 33 home runs (tied with Evan Longoria and behind just Mark Reynolds in terms of home runs by a third baseman). Some would consider Zimmerman a sell-high type player after jacking the ball more than twice what he accomplished in 2008 … however Zimmerman was scorching in the second half of 2009 (.297, 18 homers, 54 RBI) and improved his overall season batting average for the second consecutive season. These trends tell me that Zimmerman has plenty of potential left in the tank for 2010 and beyond. He may offer any speed potential, but Zimmerman is still a very solid value option for 2010.

One player you won’t see on any of my teams in 2010 is David Wright. Sure, he’s averaged a .311 batting average and 25 stolen bases over the past three seasons, but his major power outage (from 33 long balls in 2008 to 10 in 2009) is a very bad sign and the Mets continue to flounder to put talent around Wright. While I never signal out any player as a guy I’ll never own (for the right price, every player has value), but Wright will continue to be drafted as a top-three third baseman, and there is little to believe that players drafted ways, ways after him won’t produce similar numbers. ep agrees.

What is your opinion on third base in 2010? Who are your sleepers at third base? Do you see third base as surprisingly shallow as second base is surprisingly deep? We’d love to hear your comments below.

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And, for the first time in my fantasy career, I found myself giving advice so unrisky, non-dramatic and un-ninja-like, I felt sick to my stomach.

I still do.

I’ll hate myself for saying this out loud, in e-print, but this is the year that I …

… burn an earlier pick than normal on one of the four elite catchers.

Now, when I say “elite” catcher, let me get specific.

I mean Joe Mauer … he of the wicked .365 batting average. He of the career-high 28 home runs in 2009 (almost double what he jacked in 2007 and 2008 combined … something a little fishy about that?). Mauer is a workaholic who will produce for fantasy owners at such an elite pace (although I do expect a dropoff in home run totals), that having him gives you an instant boost.

Brian McCann is similar. Twenty-one dingers, a .281 batting average and playing for the prolific Braves, McCann will continue to be a beacon of fantasy consistency in 2010.

Victor Martinez had solid stats last year with the Red Sox, and considering the protection he gets in that lineup (Bay or no Bay), Martinez will continue to be a top-notch catcher in fantasy circles.

Matt Wieters may be the most risky of these top-four, but his star is quickly rising. Here’s betting he doubles the nine home runs he produced last season, and continues to work on his batting average. Playing for the Orioles doesn’t give him a lot of protection, but he is still an exciting player that can play at an elite level sooner rather than later.

After those four players, the dropoff is so severe, in my humble opinion, that I’m willing to burn a third-round pick on Mauer or Martinez or perhaps even McCann. I’d be willing to reach into the fifth or possibly even fourth round for Wieters.

That goes against all conventional teaching from the fantasy baseball days of yore … when you let Joe Draftaholic take an elite catcher early in the draft while you are padding other key positional stats … and then snag the next up-and-coming catcher in later rounds and not losing much in the way of statistical dropoff.

But there is such disparity in the catcher ranks this year … more than ever in my opinion, that I think you put yourself in a better position with one of the four guys mentioned above. For example, let’s say you snag a Jason Bay or Raul Ibanez in the third round and wait on catching. Let’s hypothetically say you land Mike Napoli or Geovanny Soto in the later rounds. Your combo of Bay-Soto or Bay Napoli will produce less, in my opinion, than if you take a Maurer in the early third round and then turn around two rounds later and snag an Adam Dunn-esque player. You get just as many (if not much more in the home run department) and Mauer’s batting average helps offset Dunn’s lack of plate discipline.

Sure there are many exceptions to the rule, and I’m not advocating that everyone go on a mad drafting spree for the four top catchers in 2010. There are a few consolation prizes at the position that I could live with. Including:

Kurt Suzuki is one of just a handful of catchers who’s stats are actually going in the right direction. Home runs are climbing, stolen bases quadrupled in 2009 (eight to two in 2008) and batting average is hovering around a respectable .274. He’s young and has not met his ceiling yet.

Miguel Montero made the best of increased playing time when Chris Snyder went down with injury last season for the D-backs. He hit a career-high 16 dingers and posted a sweet .294 at the plate. He also has a much higher ceiling than many at the position, especially since he has yet to start an entire season in the bigs.

There are a few sleeper candidates who could break out this season. John Baker has some detractors but also could open things up in 2010. Jarrod Saltalamacchia has yet to produce a full season without injury and has tons of potential … although he has seen some stat dropoffs that scare me. Kelly Shoppach can’t hit righties and has a few other deficiencies, but has some untapped power potential that could be drool-inducing. Buster Posey is a rookie with boatloads of potential, but just what will his role be in 2010, especially since Bengie Molina is still officially in town?

Again, someone should slap me for being so un-ninja with this post. For suggesting that you should actually go with the crowd and pay a somewhat higher price for one of the catching elite. However, I just can’t advocate anyone else at this position. Hopefully our ninja viewers here can set me straight.

What is your opinion on the catching class of 2010?

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If “watching” is the right word.

I was more glancing at the TV while wondering what ever happened to children’s entertainment in the past 20 years.

How in the world did we go from He-Man, Thundercats, Voltron and even the Smurfs  to Wow Wow Wubbzy, Yo Gabba Gabba! and Zoboomafu?

Ask me what my favorite TV show is of all time, and you won’t hear House (although it is fun to watch) or Law and Order or Survivor. It was a show from the 80s called Quantum Leap. Like it or not, there is a conservative streak in all of us. A part that latches on to the old and struggles to embrace the new.

Fantasy baseball managers are not exempt from this phenomenon.

But if you want to be successful in 2010, be cautious with these old statistical studs who have seen their value drop closer to that of a soggy tuna fish sandwich than a first-round sure-fire draftee.

Johan Santana, SP, Mets. Many of us remember when Johan was the best pitcher in baseball. How he buoyed the Minnesota Twins into contenders and won two Cy Young awards with the NL-Central squad. When he was a first or second-round draft pick. However, welcome to 2010, Mr. Santana. The elbow surgery that ended Johan’s 2009 season is only the tip of the iceberg. Santana’s velocity has declined each season since 2006. His strikeouts dropped off considerably after moving to the National League. His slider has become almost nonexistent. Sure, some will look at his 2.78 ERA from last season before the injury and feel that he is a bounceback candidate. However, Santana is not the same hurler you remember, especially on a team that’s becoming the MLB’s version of the Oakland Raiders. Don’t overpay for him in your draft based only on happy memories from days gone by.

Vladimir Guerrero, OF, Rangers. Remember this fantasy first-round draftee? His star has fallen so far as to be dropped from the Angels roster. He’s now with Texas. Sure he still raked when healthy last year, but those periods have become fewer and farther between lately for this falling star. One statistic to consider was his .334 on-base percentage from last season, a major dropoff from the .403 just two years before. As with Santana and others on this list, Vlad will have some big games during 2010, but not enough to justify anything more than a late-round draft pick in most league settings.

Pedro Martinez, SP, Phillies. In nine regular-season games with Philadelphia last season, Pedro was 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA and 37 strikeouts. Hard to argue against those statistics … except that Martinez would never be able to maintain that streak during the entire season. His velocity is down – it takes a very good day for him to even near the 90 mph plateau. His three-year average gives a more realistic statline for this once-great pitcher: 11 starts, 4.67 ERA, 52 Ks. There will be people reaching for Pedro on draft day, especially how he came on at the end of last season. Don’t be one of them.

Carlos Lee, OF, Astros. Perhaps not as flashy a name as others on this list, Lee has been a fantasy staple for years now. His combination of power and speed on the base paths helped redefine the concept of a multi-category fantasy player. However, Lee is no longer a guy who can anchor your fantasy outfield. Lee averaged 14 stolen bases between 2003-2007. Last year, he had five. In 2007, Lee scored 93 runs. The past two seasons, Lee was limited to the 60s (61 in 2008, 65 in 2009). His home runs have slowly declined since 2007, too (32, 28, 26). Sure, he offers power and still hovers around .300 in batting average, but that doesn’t help much when surrounded by mostly mediocre talent in the Astros starting lineup. If I was going to draft a player on a struggling team, I’d wait a round or two or more and snag someone like Andrew McCutchen with the Pirates.

Todd Helton, 1b, Rockies. It hurts me to put him on this list because he’s been one of my favorite players for quite a while, but it is time to tread cautiously when drafting Helton. After a mediocre 2008 with a .264 batting average and only seven home runs, Helton bounced back somewhat last season with 15 round-trippers and a more typical .325 showing at the plate. However, looking closer at the numbers, only one-third of Helton’s home runs came after the All-Star break. It’s apparent that at 37, Helton can’t hold up as well as he used to. Remember that on draft day.

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I’d be willing to bet real money that one Super Bowl team, if not both of them, will feature one of the guys on this list. Sorry, Joe Flacco. So let’s talk about some quarterbacks who played good football in 2009 and what 2010 might bring:

Aaron Rodgers – To paraphrase Jay-Mo, what more is there to say about Rodgers? The Green Bay QB moved into the top tier, like the Chinstrap Ninjas expected in the preseason. He’s good. He’s got weapons. People in some redraft leagues will pick him in the first round in 2010. They won’t be disappointed.

Matt Schaub – So, it helps when you’ve got someone like Andre Johnson to throw to, right? That’s not the end of the story. Take a look at what tight end Owen Daniels did until he got hurt. No. 1 or 2 tight end in the league, amirite? Schaub has shown flashes of greatness that have been extinguished due to injury in the past. He stayed healthy in 2010 and lived up to the preseason hype bestowed upon him by jzak, and other people who are less ninja-y.

Drew Brees – You could argue he’s the most productive fantasy QB on the planet. You’d be wrong technically because, y’know, he’s third on this list, but remember he took some time off at the end of the year. He should still be the top QB taken in 2010.

Peyton Manning – Speaking of taking time off … undefeated? … OK, I’m going to stop. Just understand that with his brother-in-arms Marvin Harrison completely out of the picture, Manning didn’t skip a beat. Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne are superstars because of Manning, and he made fantasy stars out of Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie.

Tony Romo – As great as Romo was this year — he set club records in completions, attempts and yards — I still have this feeling he’s going to be undervalued next year. Should we put him in the same class as Brees, Manning and Rodgers, and by that I mean potential first or second round selections? I’m going to answer that question with another question, and you’re not going to be ticked off because it is a legitimate answer in question form. Is he still throwing to Miles Austin and Jason Witten?

Brett Favre — It befuddles me that Favre waited until he was 97 years old and playing for a team that doesn’t wear green and yellow to have his best fantasy season. that’s right, I said befuddles and I’m loving it. He’ll be back next year Ninjas, and you won’t be able to get him in the final round of your draft, either. Will Favre be worth his draft spot? Probably not, but he’ll be a solid starter again in 2010. Yes, I did write that because the last three words rhyme.

Tom Brady – Terrific Tom didn’t look Totally Terrific at the end of the season. Then again, it takes a little while to be back from an injury that severe — don’t forget he got an infection in that knee that delayed the recovery process.  He’ll be better in 2010, and if his name wasn’t Brady, Tom, he’d be a value pick in next year’s draft.

Ben Roethlisberger – Big Ben is one of the quarterbacks nominated for a Platinum Shuriken MVP award. After a down 2008, he went for good value in 2009 drafts. Then he erupted onto the scene and finished as the No. 8 QB. He’ll be one of those guys that all the ‘perts say isn’t getting enough respect in the magazines. Then, by the time you draft, he’ll be going ahead of Brady and Brees. Don’t do that. But understand that with the aging Ward teamed with Santonio Holmes and Mike Wallace, Roethlisberger’s going to be an intriguing fantasy pick for years.

Philip Rivers – It’ll be interesting to see where Rivers goes in early drafts and where outlets have him ranked next season. When they play in the Super Bowl, he’ll get some hype added to his basket. The basket is not full by any means, because he’s got a legitimate shot to be a top 5 quarterback as long as that offense stays intact, and he’ll be drafted post-Favre and post-Brady. Probably shouldn’t neither.

Eli Manning – As a Giants fan, I feel a bit vindicated to relate this anecdote. After drafting Hakeem Nicks in one redraft league and expressing the pleasantness I felt with the pick, a fellow owner quipped “yeah, but he’s got Eli throwing to him.” Let it be said that Eli Manning, at least in the standard-type format I’m basing this list on, was a Top-10 quarterback in 2010. Let it also be noted that the Giants collapse was horrific and Eli Manning played a part. He threw for a career high in yards (4,071) and TDs (27), but also tied a career high in fumbles (13), set a high in fumbles lost (8) and threw 14 picks to amass the highest turnover total (22) of his career. But in 2010, he’s still throwing to Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Kevin Boss, Ahmad Bradshaw and Mario Manningham, so expect more offensive production and a potential return to the top 10.

			5	-	Lonestars	426.30	84.05	26.64	21.95	16.75	45.35	9.60	28.15	33.90	31.50	22.95	26.90	33.55	26.60	29.80	0	31.80	31.25	21.35	14.90
2	Schaub, Matt	HOU	10	-	Mavericks	392.20	72.90	24.51	25.25	21.30	26.35	30.25	14.05	21.80	28.25	0	24.65	14.70	22.10	39.60	31.05	14.20	31.50	39.25	7.90
3	Brees, Drew	NOR	5	-	Lounge Lizards	389.10	37.60	24.32	0.00	18.90	18.70	28.80	32.95	41.55	21.35	17.15	21.90	26.70	27.20	38.05	0	10.00	8.40	31.55	45.90
4	Manning, Peyton	IND	6	-	Scorpions	382.50	46.75	23.91	3.75	9.60	33.40	24.00	17.50	24.20	16.95	35.35	24.10	22.35	23.75	0	31.45	29.65	36.95	26.45	23.05
5	Romo, Tony	DAL	6	-	Bruisers	362.55	69.55	22.66	25.55	19.30	24.70	20.45	36.60	26.45	11.30	16.15	21.35	24.80	33.65	0	28.05	12.75	14.95	13.65	32.85
6	Favre, Brett	MIN	9	-	Hooters	362.20	75.25	22.64	37.00	28.05	10.20	13.40	21.75	36.60	26.65	24.20	0	28.20	19.70	25.90	14.60	25.55	25.15	15.75	9.50
7	Brady, Tom	NWE	8	-	Jazz	361.90	46.80	22.62	8.30	29.75	8.75	12.60	26.60	10.05	25.40	35.05	26.10	0	28.90	48.00	17.75	23.00	19.85	10.00	31.80
8	Roethlisberger, Ben	PIT	8	-	Heretics	349.50	82.50	21.84	23.70	15.95	42.85	11.25	21.60	0.00	35.30	9.30	21.65	0	12.95	30.95	24.85	29.95	23.10	20.65	25.45
9	Rivers, Philip	SDG	5	-	Team	341.20	58.55	21.33	8.95	21.20	28.40	16.70	29.65	27.25	11.25	19.55	21.95	15.45	27.20	16.80	0	23.80	23.65	33.80	15.60
10	Manning, Eli	NYG	10	-	Jazz	313.25	48.85	19.58	5.05	18.40	25.40	36.35	19.05	9.80	35.20	0	20.75	16.50	13.15	10.90	16.65	24.60	16.95	29.70	14.80

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Understand the Chinstrap Ninjas are not questioning Josh Cribbs’ and Jerome Harrison’s skills. They’re very good. However, they were provided a great opportunity this week against the lowly Chiefs – who also took advantage of the Browns lackluster defense.

The Browns defense is ownable simply because Cribbs could break any return. Harrison will be one of those running backs we’ll all be monitoring during drafts next year and who we’ll all be keeping in dynasty leagues. No player pops out that kind of performance and gets thrown back. He’s available in 90% of ESPN leagues. If you can still add players in your league – I’m in three that only allow playoff teams to make free agent claims – go get him.

I’m going to explore Harrison in a more in-depth post later, but for now, you probably want some player notes, so let’s get to it:

Jerome Harrison – A ridiculous 34 carries for 286 yards and three TDs makes me wonder what Eric Mangini was thinking giving Chris Jennings all of those carries the last couple of weeks.

Josh Cribbs – Didn’t do much in his wildcat role this week, but the Browns will take his 100-yard and 103-yard kick return TDs over some minor wildcat contributions any week.

Brady Quinn – Placed on IR with a foot injury. Derek Anderson will finish the season at QB for Cleveland. That’s not good.

Jamaal Charles – Because the Browns can’t tackle either – unless they’re playing the Steelers, apparently – Charles amassed 154 yards on 25 carries and a TD. Charles, like Harrison, will be among the most sought after RBs in redrafts next year.

Matt Cassel – It’s hard to tell what kind of player Cassel is. He was great with all those New England weapons, and has spent a lot of this season picking himself up off the turf. Against the Browns he was 22-for-40 for 331 yards and two TDs. I say he’ll be one of the most underrated QBs in 2010.

Chris Chambers – Despite getting only half as many targets as the disappointing Dwayne Bowe – 4 catches for 56 yards – the well-traveled Chambers racked up 114 yards and a TD on 5 receptions. Chambers and Bowe give the Chiefs a legit 1-2 punch they haven’t had for years.

Ryan Moats – Arian Foster was the darling of some sleeper lists last week, but Moats was the most impressive back in Houston. Moats only finished with 46 yards on 13 carries, but anyone playing the Foster sleeper card got a disappointing one catch and 20 total yards.

Braylon Edwards – What does the future hold for the former member of fantasy football’s elite? On Sunday, he made 5 catches for 105 yards and scored a TD. He was targeted seven times and had a 65-yard reception.

JaMarcus Russell – Raiders win… With Russell at QB. Check your prophecies, world don’t end in 2012, let’s move that up a couple years. Actually, don’t get too excited. With that TD, he was just 5-for-11 for 47 yards.

Michael Bush – Rushed for 133 yards and a TD on 18 carries. Along with Darren McFadden’s 74 yards on 12 carries, the Raiders amassed 241 total rushing yards against a top-3 Broncos rushing defense. You are a crazy one NFL. Neither of the Raiders most talented backs – those being Bush (available in 85% of ESPN leagues) and McFadden (available in 49%) – should be on the waiver/free agent list going into your dynasty/keeper offseason. They play Cleveland this week.

David Thomas – Replacing the turf-toed Jeremy Shockey, the Saints tight end was targeted 10 times and came down with eight of them for 77 yards. Turf toe is not an easy injury to play with. If Shockey can’t go, Thomas could be a fantasy championship game surprise.

Maurice Morris – Owned in only 2.7% of ESPN leagues, Morris could be a nice pickup for championship teams. He amassed 160 total yards, including five catches, and scored a TD. Morris put up numbers like a healthy Kevin Smith.

J.P. Foschi – Foschi, not Chad Ochocinco, Laveraneus Coles or Kelley Washington, led the Bengals in catches (7), yards (82) and targets (9). Will Carson Palmer continue to throw to the tight end? Probably not, but anything’s possible.

Leonard Weaver – While LeSean McCoy had a better yards per carry average and scored a touchdown, Weaver still got the bulk of the action, adding two catches to 17 carries for 70 total yards.

Josh Morgan – Alex Smith targeted Morgan, a preseason sleeper, eight times. He caught seven for 61 yards and a score. Don’t jump back on that bandwagon yet.

John Carlson – Another preseason sleeper that really disappointed this year. Matt Hasselbeck targeted him eight times. Carlson caught seven for 86 yards and scored a TD.

Jay Cutler – To call Cutler an embattled QB is an understatement, but he continues to reach new lows. His QB rating Sunday: 7.9. He completed 10 of his 27 attempts for 94 yards and was picked off three times.

Caleb Hanie – Filled in for Cutler and got picked off in only five attempts, but his 8.3 QB rating was still better than Cutler’s.

Matt Moore – A Carolina QB figured out that Steve Smith is actually really good. Moore was 21-for-33 for 299 yards and 3 TDs. That’s good enough for a 123.3 QB rating. Take that Caleb Hanie.

Steve Smith – Targeted 14 times by Moore, Smith caught 9 for 157 yards and a TD. If Moore was QB all season, Steve Smith would still be the Steve Smith.

Giants receivers – New York had five receivers – Hakeem Nicks, Kevin Boss, Steve Smith, Derek Hagen and Mario Manningham – score eight or more points in PPR leagues this week. For what it’s worth, in 2010 look for Nicks to be the home run-hitting No. 1 and Steve Smith to be the possession No 2.

Ahmad Bradshaw – He’s been very quiet of late, but Bradshaw impressed with 61 yards rushing on just nine carries. He scored 2 TDs and had three catches for 29 yards. Remember how good he was when the Giants were good earlier in the season? Maybe there’s a correlation there.

Who did we miss? What players are you targeting? Let us know in the comments.

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Coach Tom Cable said Charlie Frye, not JaMarcus “The Turnover” Russell will start at QB for Oakland on Sunday.

Now, Frye is no Tom Brady. Heck, he’s probably not even as good as Matt Moore. But he’s definitely better than Russell.

So, should you plug every Raider you got into your starting lineup? No. Never.

But Darren McFadden, who the team used out wide and racked up 100 total yards last week, could be in your plans. Maybe Frye hooks up with Louis Murphy or Chaz Schilens for a score against Denver too. Check your waiver wire.

There are a couple other things we should discuss, let’s get to it:

Bruce Gradkowski – The Raiders need to shut the QB down. Maybe he won’t lead them to a championship, but he played like a savior the last few weeks. He’s got a torn MCL in one knee and a partial tear in the same ligament in the other knee. Please, Oakland, save him for next year, even if he ends up being the veteran-in-front-of-the-top-draft-pick guy.

Brian Westbrook – Word is he could be back in Week 15. When you’re talking concussion, you shouldn’t take chances. He should probably be shut down too. It’s not what fantasy owners want to hear, but the Eagles seem to be doing well enough without him for now. No sense taking chances.

LeSean McCoy – Had a text conversation with Jay-Mo, a regular here as Chinstrap Ninjas commenter and contributor. He’s calling out McCoy as 2010’s Ray Rice. I’m not completely sold, but compare McCoy’s averages in limited time this year with Rice’s averages in limited time last year and you can easily make the comparison.

Dwayne Bowe – He’s back from suspension this week. And he’s playing the Browns. Check your waiver wire in case some impatient owner dropped him to pick up Devin Aromashodu. In the one league I have him in, an ESPN league, I saw that second week of playoffs matchup and decided there was no way I was going to drop him.

Randy Moss – He gave up on a team before, but that was because it was in Oakland and the team sucked. If he’s giving up because Wes Welker’s getting the lion’s share of catches, Moss isn’t going to change things by not doing his job when he’s called on.

Kurt Warner – JaMarcus Russell could have done that.

Larry Fitzgerald – Warner’s inability to get Fitz the ball cost me, and probably plenty of other fantasy footballers, playoff victory. More importantly, especially for those of you who advanced, the MRI on Fitz’s knee was negative.

Vince Young – His status is uncertain, which stinks because VY was awesome in a half last week, thanks in part to the 44-yard run that injured him. If Young does play, he’ll be alright, but he’ll be running with a spare tire on one side. That would keep him well under 55 miles and hour.

Mike Hart and Donald Brown – In our Monday update, I said not to get too excited about Hart. But I’m taking that back now. The unbeaten Colts are going to start thinking about resting starters, including Joseph Addai. That means Hart will be the primary backup until Brown returns. Brown could be back this week, but either of these guys could help you in your semifinals and finals.

Ray Rice – Relax, his chest injury was not serious. He’ll be fine this week.

Devin Thomas – Jim Zorn said on his radio show that they want to get Thomas more interested. We’ve been plugging him for a little while here at Chinstrap Ninjas, and I even posted something about his potential way back when he was drafted. He’ll likely return punts this week.

Kevin Smith – The Lions running back was placed on IR. I can’t speak for the rest of the Ninjas, but I haven’t been playing him much in the two ESPN leagues that I have him in anyway.

Arian Foster – I told you I wasn’t excited about Ryan Moats or Chris Brown, two other Houston running backs, in our Monday update. The thing is, Houston plays the Rams this week. Moats was benched because he couldn’t hold onto the ball. Foster was decent – more effective in the passing game, actually – and could see more action this week. He’s not a must-get, but he could help some needy teams this week.

2010 rookies

Because many of you are already looking ahead to next year – damn you, Brandon Marshall! – I’ve got some words about three 2010 draft picks:

Arrelious Benn – The Illinois receiver is expected to declare for the draft today. He’ll be among the top three WRs taken, unless the Raiders pick a WR ahead of him. They’ll shock everyone and take some guy from Maryland who can’t catch the ball.

Jake Locker – Many experts had Locker pegged as the most NFL-ready QB in college football. Fantasy footballers will have to wait until 2011 though, because  he’s going back to Washington.

Mark Ingram – Won the Heisman. That’s a very prestigious award and the Alabama back should be proud. But despite Heisman winners’ dominance in the college game, their talent sometimes gets lost in the NFL. Ron Dayne, Eric Crouch, Chris Weinke, Jason White and Troy Smith all won Heismans in the last 10 years. That said, Ingram will likely be one of the most-coveted rookies in 2011 fantasy drafts.

UPDATE: As pointed out by SockoNFL in the comments, Ingram is a true sophomore and ineligible for the NFL draft. Must have been wishful thinking on my part, after Clemson’s C.J. Spiller and California’s Jahvid Best, the other good backs seem rather Reggie Bush-esque, and by that I mean ready to disappoint everyone.

So, what do you think? Is Frye better than Russell? Are you playing Arian Foster in the semifinals this week? Targeting Benn in 2010? Let us know in the comments.

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