Redraft leagues, or those you redraft from scratch each summer, are the most widely used league formats in fantasy football today. You are focusing on what the player will do for you this season and this season only. With that being said, and noting that my opinions will vary greatly at times with others, here are my redraft quarterback rankings at the moment for 2010 fantasy leagues (be sure to check out our early dynasty QB rankings):

1. Aaron Rodgers, GB. If you owned Aaron Rodgers last year, you likely consumed ways too much Alka-Seltzer. That’s because his O-line was so shoddy, every blitzing defender seemed to get a clear shot at Rodgers. Without really knowing Rodgers potential, we all winced and waited for his name to show up on the injury report. Say all you want about Drew Brees, Peyton Manning or anyone else on this list, but I’ll take the QB who can take a licking and keep on flicking the ball down the field. His line will be much improved, his weapons are young and more than able and he has a workmanlike running game behind him.

2. Drew Brees, NO. Perhaps he’d be better ranked as 1A. The Saints offense revolves around the passing game, and there are more weapons at Brees’ disposal than you’ll find in a Quentin Tarantino film. The loss of third-down back Mike Bell will potentially lead to more red zone pass attempts, and Brees will continue to rake up the stats, Madden curse or no Madden curse.

3. Peyton Manning, IND. What can one say that hasn’t already been said about this guy during his illustrious career? I was fully expecting him to take a step backwards last season, and he responded by sprinting a 100-meter dash forward. Anthony Gonzalez adds yet another young and able weapon to Manning’s arsenal, and methinks that No. 18 will have something to prove this season after falling short in the Super Bowl.

4. Matt Schaub, HOU. Here’s where my rankings may conflict with others, but I’m not too worried about that. Schaub’s biggest detractor last season was concerns about him starting a full slate of games. He met that challenge and then some. He throws to the best WR in the game. He has a stellar supporting cast. Many forget how effective Owen Daniels was in the passing game last season before his injury. Daniels will be back this season, and the Kevin Walter/Jacoby Jones combo should provide a solid backup option for Schaub. It is obvious that the Texans are a pass heavy team, and the running game is still a question mark. Plus, the Texans will be in more shootouts than the other teams represented so far on this list.

5. Tony Romo, DAL. After a very productive 2009 season, Romo gets an uber-rookie receiving talent in Dez Bryant to play catch with. Miles Austin showed he can be a solid option, Jason Witten provides a reliable safety net and Felix Jones, who is a huge asset out of the backfield as a receiver, is slated to get more action in the offense.

6. Tom Brady, NE. Some knock Brady’s value this season due to the questions surrounding Wes Welker’s health. However, the Patriots have ample talent available to fill the void, and did nothing to bring in an elite running back to shift the offense’s overall focus away from the pass. Randy Moss should have a huge season … he’s in a contract situation and knows he’s likely out of New England after this season. He will step up his game, which will only help Brady.

7. Philip Rivers, SD. Rivers took the next step in his quarterbacking career last season and produced very solid stats across the board. Concerns about Vincent Jackson’s situation with the Chargers is the only red flag to watch with this young up-and-comer.

8. Jay Cutler, CHI. The 26 interceptions last year was simply unacceptable, and a reason to be sour on Cutler in 2010. However, one has to like the additon of OC Mike Martz and the chemistry that is allegedly forming between the two already. The Bears lack any proven receiving commodities, but do have a good mix of speed and size among the weapons.

9. Matt Ryan, ATL. Another head-scratcher, perhaps, for some reading this list. However, Ryan is primed to take the next step in his maturing under center this season. Even in a “disappointing” sophomore season, Ryan finished with 22 touchdowns. Roddy White is an elite receiver, and while Tony Gonzalez isn’t getting any younger, he’s still a reliable option. If you look at Peyton Manning’s stats his first two seasons as a pro QB, you’d be surprised at how similar they are to Matt Ryan’s. That is one of many reasons I have Ryan as one of my QB sleepers in drafts this summer.

10. Brett Favre, MIN. As the chinstrap ninja faithful know, I’m a huge Favre fan, and recently wrote him a letter on his pending yearly late-summer decision on whether or not to play again. Favre was purely amazing stats-wise last season, and there is little reason to think he won’t be effective again as quarterback of the Vikings. All the big-play weapons are still at his disposal, and the Vikings have some juicy matchups again in 2010. Just don’t expect him to throw only seven interceptions again.

11. Eli Manning, NYG. Quietly, Eli has become a solid fantasy QB in the league and is someone who shouldn’t be overlooked on draft day. The 4,021 yards and 27 TDs were career highs for Manning, and he has emerging weapons in Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham. I’m also a fan of Ramses Barden. The Giants running game doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence, and will likely lead to another solid passing campaign from Peyton’s little brother.

12. Joe Flacco, BAL. Sure, the addition of Anquan Boldin, combined with the solid pass-catching ability of Ray Rice out of the backfield and reliability of Derrick Mason are all reasons to love the potential of young Flacco, but I was sold moreso on his grittiness last season playing through injury and still producing quality stats. The Ravens are on the path to big things, and Flacco is a main cog in that process. He’s another guy I’m targeting later in drafts this summer.

13. Donovan McNabb, WAS. It’s weird how close I have both Kolb and McNabb on this list. Kolb has the better weapons but much less experience. McNabb has the experience, but much less impressive weapons. Call me old fashioned, but I’ll take the experience and McNabb’s ability to make plays over the largely unproven Kolb at the moment.

14. Kevin Kolb, PHI. Again, I could switch Kolb and McNabb on this list and not lose any sleep. Kolb did fare well in limited action last season and does have some nice toys to play with. He’s one guy who could produce up with the Jay Cutlers on this list, or down with the Matt Cassels.

15. Alex Smith, SF. Say what you will about Smith, but I like his potential in that offense. Crabtree should continue to emerge as a big-play threat, Frank Gore offers plenty of security out of the backfield and Vernon Davis is finally reaching his potential. Add in the fact that the Niners have a pretty juicy schedule this year, and Smith should be a solid option when the other names are off the board.

16. Carson Palmer, CIN. A horrific dropoff last season could be tied to a number of issues, including lack of true weapons. Antonio Bryant and rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham will help in that regard. Palmer is too talented to suddenly fall off the edge of the football earth, so a bounceback season with less pressure on him is likely, just don’t overpay.

17. Matt Leinart, ARI. Hard to truly gauge where Leinart belongs on this list. He has some solid weapons at his disposal and a nice slate of games ahead of him. Beanie Wells and the running game will take pressure off his shoulders, and Derek Anderson is talented enough to provide some competition to keep Leinart striving for his best.

18. Matthew Stafford, DET. Thrown to the wolves as a rookie, Stafford survived the trial by fire fairly admirably. The addition of Nate Burleson should add some more options for Stafford and the fact that the Lions will be playing catch-up much of the time are reasons to like his chances of maturing into a decent QB2 in fantasy circles this season.

19. Chad Henne, MIA. There’s a lot to like about Henne, regardless of what some consider his recklessness in trying to force throws places they shouldn’t go. Brandon Marshall adds a huge dimension to the passing game, and Henne could mature into a player deserving a much higher spot on this list by midseason.

20. Mark Sanchez, NYJ. The Jets spoonfed Sanchez last season and the strategy worked fairly well. The squad will continue to be a run-first program, but Sanchez will have more and more opportunity to ride his bike without the training wheels, so to speak. The addition of Santonio Holmes will help once Holmes is back from suspension, and LaDanian Tomlinson offers some out-of-the-backfield throw-downs when Shonn Green isn’t toting the rock.

Others of note:

Vince Young is not a guy I’d want to hang my fantasy team on. Sure, he wins games in the NFL, but his style of play isn’t conducive to fantasy stats. Let someone else take the risk.

Ben Roethlisberger has really fallen from grace. Even if he does miss just the first four weeks of the season, he still comes back to a team void of Santonio Holmes and one focused moreso on the running game. Big Ben has long-term potential in dynasty leagues, but not buying him in redrafts this year.

Jason Campbell could be a nice story in Oakland if he can find reliable targets. As a backup QB with the right weekly matchup, Campbell could be serviceable.

Matt Cassel doesn’t inspire great fantasy assurance, despite having some weapons at his disposal. There are plenty of other options with more potential.

Matt Moore could be a sneaky sleeper pick. He found good chemistry at the end of the season with Steve Smith, and if he holds the starting gig for any length of time over Jimmy Clausen, he could be a nice fantasy option.

Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst are joined at the hip and it isn’t a good idea to rely on any at the moment until a clear frontrunner emerges.

Jake Delhomme may be playing plenty of catchup with the Browns, but then again, could lose his job to Seneca Wallace to even at times to rookie Colt McCoy.

How do you have QBs ranked in redraft formats? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

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We’ve been previewing NFL teams from a fantasy standpoint  by division as they gear up for the 2010 NFL Draft. So far, we’ve previewed the NFC-North and the AFC-East. Now, we hit the NFC West:

St. Louis Rams

QB:

Your guess is as good as mine here.  Word on the street is that they are going to draft Sam Bradford but recent developments have them going after Donovan McNabb.  If they get McNabb he will retain his McNabb esque value.  If they go with Bradford expect Stafford or Sanchez numbers in the coming year…needless to say this is a position to watch and most likely stay far away from.  I know Bulger is still on the roster but good money is against him making it to the start of the regular season or for him to complete the season injury free.

RB:

Steven Jackson:  He will be decent in the coming year and if McNabb is the choice at QB he will see a hike in catches.  He is a top 10 back next year but he might be worth moving in a dynasty format before he hits the running back wall.  I don’t really need to sell him his numbers do that all by themselves.  As long as he stays off in injury list you have a sure fire starter every week.

Depending who the Rams draft at running back, if they do, he could have huge value for the weeks that Jackson is hurt or if something bad happens to Jackson and he goes down for the year. 

WR:

Donnie Avery:   The best option of a poor group.  He is quick and has some good hands.  I just don’t trust the Rams.  The offense will go through Jackson and everyone is going to know it, if you are relying on Avery or any of the WR or TE’s your team could be in trouble.  I see Avery as a WR4 at best.

Brandon Gibson: Sleeper alert … kind of.  If your league is super deep and you are really searching he might be worth a look, but I wouldn’t hold out hope.  He had an ok season and could make a splash.

The Rams are bad if they use a high pick on a wide out he could come in and have a big impact so I would keep an eye on this position.

TE:

Daniel Fells: He had a few ok games.  There is some promise here but again you need to watch the draft word is they are looking to add a Tight End in the draft.  A young quarterback could be a blessing for whoever the tight end is, but again most of the touchdowns are going to be going to Jackson.

Rob Gronkowski of Arizona or Jimmy Graham from the U are both options for the Rams or if some how Grisham slides are being targeted by the Rams and anyone would be a huge upgrade and could be worth a late round pick, or early pick in a rookie draft.
Seattle Seahawks

QB:

Much like the Rams this is a position to avoid.  It is also too early to speculate who is going to be at the helm.  Good money is on Hasselbeck, but he most likely will not remain there the entire season.  Charlie Whitehurst was brought in to compete so you could see him get in the mix in the middle of the season.  Also I would not rule out the addition of a quarterback in the draft.  This is a position to keep a close eye on in dynasty formats and is one to run far away from in redraft formats.

RB:

Justin Forsett:  He had a few great games last year and showed some great flashes, if he gets a chance to carry the rock full time you could have a great sleeper on your hands.  Although he most likely will be wrapped up in a running back by committee, he will be worth a shot in the late rounds since I don’t see Julius Jones holding up the entire year.  He should be on all dynasty rosters if roster limits permit.

Julius Jones: He is going to poach some carries and touchdowns from Forsett.  More importantly he has had some success in the past, but it has only been mild success.  I wouldn’t expect much from Jones, although if he finds himself to be the lone back because of injuries he will get some value.  He is a buyer beware player.

The Seahawks have been linked to C.J. Spiller in many mock drafts.  While I don’t know if that is a realistic move for the Seahawks with all the holes they have, but I do see them taking a back at sometime in the draft.  Pete Carroll may look for one of the Pac 10 backs:  Blount, McKnight, Best, Stefon Johnson are all possibilities in the later rounds.

WR:

T.J. Housh:  Talk about a sinking ship.  T.J. needed Ochocinco more than he wants to admit.  Teams put some extra attention to Housh and with no real homerun speed he was exposed.  He is an elite possession receiver but without some help he is going to struggle.  I don’t see him as more than a low option for a WR2.  I would be looking to try and unload him for something in a dynasty format and I would tread lightly in a redraft league.

Deion Branch: Another “meh” receiver.  Branch is no more than a WR4 to a waiver addition.  He is just in a decline and the lack of skill at the quarterback position isn’t going to help.  I would keep an eye on Branch and if you are in a deep league he might be worth a late round flyer. 

Deon Butler: He could start to emerge if the Seahawks start to go for the youth movement.  He is not worth drafting in a redraft league but is one to keep an eye on since he could be pushed into the starting lineup with an injury. 

I don’t see the Seahawks using a pick on a wide out but crazier things have happened.  I also don’t know if I believe any of this stuff about Brandon Marshall coming to the Seahawks. 

TE:

John Carlson:  He has shown some flashes but has been wildly inconsistent. He is worth owning as your second tight end and is worth keeping a close eye on.  Not the most sound choice for a tight end but he could be an ok spot starter.

Tight end is something that shouldn’t be looked at in the draft and any tight end drafted would not be a threat to Carlson’s strangle hold on the position.
San Francisco 49ers

QB:

Alex Smith:  Unless they add someone via trade it is Smith’s job to lose.  He had a decent year last year after he took over and could improve upon it.  Crabtree, Morgan and Davis are all good options to throw to and Gore is a solid pass catching back.  Is he going to be a top 10 fantasy quarterback, most likely the answer is no, but he could be a solid bye week fill in.  With a little improvement he could be a spot starter.  He is someone to get in a dynasty format and in redraft is worth taking if you get one of the top quarterbacks. 

All that stands between Smith and starting is McNabb if McNabb goes else where is he going to be the starter if he ends up in San Fran then he is the surefire starter and I would say all the other positions take a tick upwards. 

RB:

Frank Gore:  The offense goes through Gore and he will get a majority of the carries.  He also catches the ball well out of the backfield.  He is a top 10 back and if he can stay healthy he could very well be in the top five.  Not much needs to be said about Gore’s game, if you have him you hold on to him if you are in a redraft league he is a solid 2nd round choice. 

Glenn Coffee: He is a great hand cuff for Gore, I am not sure he is going to take over anytime soon if ever, but if Gore gets banged up he could be a great spot starter.  If you have a deep league he would be worth grabbing, and is pretty close to a must have if you’re a Gore owner.

Word is that the 49ers might look at Spiller in the draft.  This would be the worst possible thing for Gore’s value.  The addition of any other back shouldn’t do much for Gore’s value.  Keep an eye on the draft but if the 49ers don’t call Spiller’s name all will be well in the fantasy world.

WR:

Michael Crabtree: He flashed some skills after he signed with the 49ers.  With the 49ers opening up the offense his numbers should be on the rise, by the end of the season he could be a WR2 and in dynasty formats is a must own.  This year will be a good gauge on Crabtree’s value and involvement

Josh Morgan: He is a decent WR and will be served well being the second wide out.  The only problem with Morgan is he is the 4th option on the offense.  I see him as a WR3 on the low end.  If Alex Smith turns it on Morgan could be a solid spot play or bye week fill in. 

I think the 49ers will shy away from a wide out early so there should be no worries here.  Only the Lions would use back to back first round picks on wide outs so there shouldn’t be much worry here.

TE:

Vernon Davis: He burst on to the scene last year and there is no reason to think that he won’t repeat.  Draft him as one of the top five tight ends off the board and start him every week.  He has an unbelievable combo of size and speed. 

No worries via the draft here.

Arizona Cardinals

QB:

Matt Leinart: I think everything will be ok with Leinart.  I would take him as a #2 qb and see how things play out.  He will be a hot dynasty hold and with the weapons in Zona he could really burst onto the scene. 

I really think that it’s going to be Leinart’s job to lose and there will be a slight qb battle but the Cardinals have to figure out what they have with Leinart.  I think it will be much like the Rodgers situation in Green Bay where the Packers needed to know what they had before they could move on.

RB:

Chris Wells: I think he is the player to watch. He runs with power and has good vision and is the unquestioned best back in Zona.  Zona is claiming more balance for the offense and that will benefit the running game.  He will be a player to watch and a player to get in dynasty leagues.

Tim Hightower: He will steal some third down touches but for the most part he will be a non factor in fantasy.  His value is higher to the team than it is fantasy wise.

Highly doubt a running back is picked with all the holes on defense that need to be filled.

WR:

Larry Fitz: Top 3 wide out if you don’t know about him get out of the cave you are in.

Early Doucet: Played well down the stretch.  Has been compared to Boldin but I dunno if that is a fair comparison.  He will be ok and will fight with Breaston for playing time and catches this is a battle to watch in minicamp.

Steve Breaston: He has shown flashes and will be a hot addition for many people and a popular sleeper.  He played well without Boldin in the lineup and should have a pretty good season.  Don’t reach for him because no one knows if he will hold up. 

Again too many holes on defense to use a high pick on a wide out.

TE:

Not really anyone to note here, but if they spend a draft pick on one he could a solid player and contributor to the offense.

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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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When it comes to fantasy football, you can let your chinstrapninjas do the surfing.

As the rest of the collective football world slowly wakes up from its Super Bowl stupor and thinks it is safe to turn its attention to college hoops and fantasy baseball, this becomes one of the best times for fantasy football dynasty league owners to morph into stealthy ninja form and take their opponents by surprise.

Some consider early-offseason trading in dynasty leagues as fantasy suicide … you don’t know what to expect from offseason moves and the NFL rookie draft.

However, with careful calculated projections and predictions, this can be a perfect time to strike a deal that could catapult your squad to fantasy prominence not only in 2010, but well beyond.

As I discussed some potential deals in my own dynasty league, I was disappointed in how few other sites and resources were far-sighted enough to start providing solid dynasty rankings for 2010. Sure it’s early, but then again, you need some items in your fantasy tool belt if Johnny Trade-a-lot springs a multi-player blockbuster deal on you.

It would be easy for me to provide you with my position-by-position dynasty rankings, and while I feel pretty confident in my personal list, I didn’t develop it until after doing a good deal of research and checking out similar lists on other sites.

So, for the best dynasty rankings all in one convenient location, I developed the following complete early 2010 dynasty quarterback rankings, scoring in similar lists from fftoolbox, rotoworld, dynastyrankings.blogspot and footballdiehards websites. This composite list includes my personal ranking (in parentheses before each name), each QB’s current team, age and (after the name in parentheses) the composite scoring from the four sites above.

Check back soon for similar rankings at each of the other positions.

1. (2) Drew Brees, New Orleans, 31 years old (6pts). The Super Bowl MVP has a lot to offer fantasy owners. He’s matured into a top-notch QB with a huge arsenal at his disposal. He should be around for years to come, and many are thinking the Saints have morphed into the new-age version of “The Greatest Show on Turf.” Some already are talking about Brees being on track to being one of the best QB of all time.

Scoring-wise, Brees was only one overall point higher than Aaron Rodgers for the top spot, and I personally have Rodgers ranked first at the position, but when it comes to the crème de la crème at signal caller, you really can’t go wrong with either option.

2. (1) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay, 26 (7 pts). What’s not to love about Rodgers moving forward? He has arguably the best weapons of any QB on this list. Even if Donald Driver retires in the not-too-distant future, Rodgers still has elite options in Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley at his disposal, along with plenty of other young pieces with upside.

Rumor-mill whisperings suggest that the Packers draft a speedy backfield complement to Ryan Grant, which should give Rodgers even more short yardage and red zone opportunities out of the backfield.

Those who knock Rodgers from the top spot argue that he’s a major injury waiting to happen considering how much he was knocked around in 2009 by opposing defenses and poor O-line play.  I think that’s ridiculous. Don’t you think that the Packers brass watch the same games we do? Don’t you think they winced in horror every time Rodgers was smacked to the turf? Don’t you think they’ll make the O-line a major organizational priority this offseason?

Also, make sure you take note of Rodgers’ age … a good five years younger than Brees and the youngest QB in the composite top eight QB options.

3. (3) Peyton Manning, Indianapolis, 33 (11 pts). Forget the miscues in the Super Bowl, Manning proved during the regular season that his talent is ageless. Many, including yours truly, expected Manning to take a step back in 2009. He did the opposite.

He has emerging young weapons and an undervalued running game at his disposal. His pocket presence and overall O-line protection will help keep Peyton healthy long after most of his quarterbacking peers. He may be the third oldest option on this list (outside of Brett Favre and Donovan McNabb), but who else would you want starting for you when your fantasy season is on the line?

One word of caution for Manning is the tendency for Colts higher-ups to sit the QB late in the year (typically during the fantasy playoffs) when his team’s NFL postseason ticket is punched.

4. (5) Philip Rivers, San Diego, 28 (18 pts). Gone are the days that the Chargers are a run-first, grind-it-out offense. This is King Philip’s team now, and Rivers has shown that he can handle the challenge.

The steady, reliable production of Antonio Gates coupled with the emerging skillset of Vincent Jackson has allowed Rivers to become a viable fantasy option both in 2010 and beyond. Darren Sproles offers a solid out-of-the-backfield target and San Diego is certain to select a young RB with good hands during the upcoming draft.

While I’ve never looked at Rivers as an elite QB option, it is hard to deny that he has arrived on the fantasy scene and should be considered a reliable option for the long haul.

5. (6) Tom Brady, New England, 32 (20 pts). The 2009 Comeback Player of the Year has been a fantasy staple for years now … thanks especially to the breakout emergence of Wes Welker and the big-play abilities of Randy Moss.

However, while his season-ending stats were impressive, there were some visible chinks in the armor that need close monitoring this offseason. Welker went down in the postseason with severe knee injuries. While he predicts he’ll be back for the 2010 season opener, more realistic projections don’t have Welker back into later in the campaign … and it remains to be seen what level he’ll be playing at when he does return.

Moss, who’s been on his best behavior for the Patriots, started to show some trademark attitude in 2009. Not enough to think he’ll become a liability in 2010, but enough to wonder what may play out in the years to come. News that Moss had been fighting with pain from a separated shoulder most of the season is actually encouraging for Brady owners, however, because the injury provides a viable excuse for Moss’s struggles at times this year.

The postseason emergence of the young and talented Julian Edelman also gives hope to the Brady-a-holics. It is way too soon to consider Brady on the downside of his fantasy career, but he does have more question marks surrounding him than others on this list.

6. (9) Tony Romo, Dallas, 29 (26 pts). Thanks in large part to Miles Austin, Romo’s fantasy stock soared in 2009. Many were suspicious how Romo would produce without an elite No. 1 WR in the mix, but Austin filled that role nicely as the season progressed.

Tight end Jason Witten, who struggled to start the season, started hitting his fantasy stride down the stretch. The breaking down of running back Marion Barber led to a breakout emergence for Felix Jones in the postseason … and if Jones continues to get a majority of the backfield starts in 2010, he provides a much better receiving option for Romo.

7. (8) Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh, 27 (27 pts). Many dynasty owners were low on Big Ben several years ago because he filled the prototypical QB on a running-first squad role. However, Roethlisberger and the Steelers passing game took a major leap forward in 2009.

Hines Ward is ageless, Santonio Holmes continues to emerge as a top-flight option, Heath Miller started living up to his tight end potential, even rookie Mike Wallace played an important role in the Pittsburgh aerial attack.

In addition to Rashard Mendenhall becoming a bigger piece of the offensive puzzle moving forward, Roethlisberger needs to be respected in fantasy circles.

8. (4) Matt Schaub, Houston, 28 (30 pts). What else does Schaub need to do to gain the respect of fantasy owners? As I predicted this time last year, he proved in 2009 that he can survive a full season without missing time to injuries, he has arguably the best receiver in the game (Andre Johnson) and a very capable supporting cast.

Many quickly forget how prolific tight end Owen Daniels was last year up until his season-ending injury … Schaub would have been a contender for the highest producing fantasy QB in the NFL if Daniels has played the entire year.

Many are skeptical of the Houston backfield, but all the pieces currently in the RBBC there are major options for the passing game, including Steve Slaton, who could play more of a Reggie Bush-type role in 2010.

Schaub is young enough and has more than enough weapons around him on a team that always seems to be playing catchup to be considered an elite dynasty QB moving forward … hence my personal top-four ranking.

9. (7) Matt Ryan, Atlanta, 24 (35 pts). Everything you need to know about Ryan’s potential you can read in my early 2010 sleeper post. There are many reasons why I love Matt Ryan in dynasty leagues … the kid has tons of talent and a solid supporting cast.

As I posted in my sleeper column, Ryan’s numbers this past season may have seemed disappointing, but compare them to sophomore statistics of current QB greats such as Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady. You’d be amazed how close they look on paper.

Fantasy owners are fickle. They were spoiled by Ryan’s amazing rookie numbers, and too lazy to look at the numbers and big picture behind what will surely be a long and prosperous career for Ryan both in the NFL and on your respective fantasy team.

10. (10) Joe Flacco, Baltimore, 25 (42 pts). Flacco continues to get little respect by fantasy owners … including those in dynasty leagues. It’s a shame, because when the Ravens land their next elite WR (Brandon Marshall, Anquan Boldin, someone else?), everyone will wonder where this Flacco kid came from.

Fantasy-wise, on a team fairly devoid of reliable receiving weapons, Flacco has been a gem. He made Derrick Mason a solid fantasy option in 2009. Flacco helped bring out the best in emerging talent Ray Rice.

If I’m re-building my dynasty team for the long-haul, I’d look to deal an older “veteran” option with more name value for a Flacco any day of the week, while improving my roster in other places, to boot. This time next season, Flacco will be higher on this list.

11. (12) Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia, 34 (46 pts). It’s amazing to me how undervalued McNabb is to both hard-core fans of the Eagles and fantasy owners alike. He is a top option at the position every year, regardless of the ebb-and-flow of the talent Philly puts on the field.

Last year as Brian Westbrook struggled to produce on a consistent basis, McNabb simply dished the ball out to the team’s very young stable of capable receivers. Still, McNabb finds himself in offseason rumormills about where he’ll be playing in 2010 and how much longer he’ll be a viable option.

As I predicted for this season, McNabb will stay in Philly and will again produce a solid stat-set that many will be too narrow-minded to enjoy. Don’t be one of those owners.

12. (14) Eli Manning, New York Giants, 29 (47 pts). Peyton’s little brother faced a changeover in the receiving guard last season, but was quick to find new favorite toys in Steve Smith, Mario Manningham and others.

The team continues to proclaim itself as a run-first juggernaut, but Brandon Jacobs definitely lost a step in 2009 and Manning stepped up his game to compensate. He will again provide respectable numbers in 2010 with the potential to move up higher on this list, even though there are some questions surrounding the Giants both in the running game and on the defensive side of the ball.

13. (11) Jay Cutler, Chicago, 26 (48 pts). After his move from Denver to Chicago last offseason, Cutler’s value has taken a hit. He struggled majorly at times in 2009, and many worry that he’s ways too inconsistent to be a starting fantasy QB.

However, that was before the recent hiring of Mike Martz as Bears Offensive Coordinator. Suddenly, Cutler becomes a QB sleeper. Martz is known for extremely elevating the passing games on every team he’s coached, and the Bears have some young talent that could translate into plenty of stats for Cutler.

Matt Forte is a good out-of-the-backfield target, Devin Aromashodu emerged as a Cutler favorite and big-time receiver at the end of the season, Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox are guys who stand to see significant boosts in value, as well.

Many forget just how young Cutler is, and he’s now in a situation that should elevate his fantasy game to the next level.

14. (21) Vince Young, Tennessee, 26 (53 pts). Young is young. Young has weapons. Young proved in 2009 that he can be a winner at the NFL level. However, I’m not sold on him as a fantasy option.

His passing game isn’t as polished as it could be simply because he is so quick to tuck the ball and try to make yardage on the ground. In the final 10 games of the regular season, Young threw for over 200 yards only four times and had multiple touchdown passes in just two contests. Not exactly fantasy-friendly production.

15. (13) Chad Henne, Miami, 24 (57 pts). Trying to fill Dan Marino’s cleats has proven to be difficult for the Dolphins, but they seem to have found their answer in Henne. While the Michigan product definitely suffered from growing pains as a starter last season, he showed plenty of potential in an offense fairly devoid of pure receiving talent.

He threw for over 300 yards in three of the team’s final five games, including a 335-yard, two-TD performance against division rival New England in Week 13.

Henne is lobbying for the team to draft an elite receiving threat, and there are plenty of rumors about either Anquan Boldin or Brandon Marshall ending up in Miami. Henne’s future is bright.

T-16. (15) Carson Palmer, Cincinnati, 30 (63 pts). After a statistically disappointing season for Palmer, NFL analyst Chris Mortensen said: “I don’t hear a lot of negative stuff from people in the league about Carson. You’ve got to surround him with weapons. He’s absolutely OK.”

The Bengals do have to get some young, speedy receivers. However, how do you account for Palmer’s loss in velocity and overall accuracy? It’s possible that we’ve seen the best of Carson Palmer.

T-16. (16) Brett Favre, Minnesota, 40 (63 pts). It doesn’t take rocket science to understand why Favre, a top-five fantasy QB in 2009, is ranked this low on a dynasty QB list. He could come back and single-handedly lead both the Vikings and your fantasy team to the promised land. He could finally retire for good.

My opinion? He’ll be back for one last try at a ring. He’s already the best QB in NFL history, according to me.

18. (17) Matthew Stafford, Detroit, 22 (64 pts). Those who doubt that Stafford could be a fantasy force for the Lions need only look at his 422-yard, five-TD outing against Cleveland last year. Sure, it was against the Browns … but he was totally locked in during that contest.

He has one of the best receivers in the game in Calvin Johnson, a second-year tight end in Brandon Pettigrew that could one day be a top-five fantasy performer at the position and a running back in Kevin Smith who is proficient in the passing game.

The Lions are behind in enough games for Stafford to need to air things out on a consistent basis. He had a rough rookie campaign, but will be a better sophomore QB because of it.

19. (18) Mark Sanchez, New York Jets, 23 (70 pts). Some may be scratching their head that a guy who threw just 12 TDs and 20 INTs last season would even make the top 25, but many also overlook that Sanchez was a rookie.

In the grand scheme of things, his numbers weren’t too far off base when looking at rookie numbers by other top-tier QB. Braylon Edwards underperformed most of the season, but should be a viable weapon in 2010, and the Jets aren’t done in accumulating WR talent … whether it be via free agency or the rookie draft.

In a couple years, Sanchez will be a top fantasy QB, and someone worth hoarding in all dynasty formats.

20. (23) Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay, 22 (75 pts). “We want him to complete 65 percent of his passes. He needs to be the first guy in the building. It’s the leadership aspect we need from him. He needs to be more vocal with teammates in and out of the huddle,” new QBs coach Alex Van Pelt said.

Being the first guy in the building and taking a bigger leadership role is totally on Freeman, but the Buccaneers need to provide some weapons if Freeman is to see his completion rate improve

Tampa needs to do a lot of things to be competitive again, and I wonder if Freeman will be a casualty of an impatient fan base before he ever really gets a good chance with a solid supporting cast.

21. (N/R) Jason Campbell, Washington, 28 (76 pts). Campbell’s long-term future is not with the Redskins, who will likely nab one of the top QB talents in the upcoming rookie draft. This means that Campbell will wind up in a lame duck role as a starter to keep the starting Redskin gig warm for Jimmy Clausen or Matthew Bradford … or he’ll wind up playing elsewhere in 2010.

His short and long-term values are both tied to where he plays, and if he somehow winds up with a team like the Arizona Cardinals, as I predict here, than he could a good value player at this point. However, there is more risk than reward at the moment.

T-22. (19) Matt Leinart, Arizona, 26 (80 pts). Kurt Warner’s retirement should, at least on the surface, translate into Leinart getting the keys to one of the better passing offenses in the league.

Unfortunately for Leinart, coach Ken Whisenhunt comes from a run-first mentality, and there is good reason to believe that Anquan Boldin will be playing elsewhere in 2010.

Even with those factors involved, Leinart is a sneaky play here considering his age. However, his inconsistency in spot play backing up Warner could lead to some outside competition for the starting QB gig … from someone like Jason Campbell, among others.

T-22. (25) David Garrard, Jacksonville, 31 (80 pts). For years, Garrard has been arguably the most under-rated fantasy quarterback in the game … consistently and quietly ranking among the top 10 to 15 players at the position. However, coach Jack Del Rio has openly question whether Garrard is a Super Bowl-level signal caller.

“A quarterback like David Garrard can be that with a great supporting cast,” he said. “I don’t know. When you look at teams that have won multiple championships, I think they’ve had elite quarterbacks.”

Garrard’s future with Jacksonville is tenuous at best, and there are some rumors that certain rookie QBs are on the radar screen heading into the 2010 draft.

24. (N/R) Kyle Orton, Denver, 27 (84 pts). ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio has reported that the Browns, Bills and Broncos have expressed an interest in possibly trading for Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. Not exactly a glowing endorsement for Orton.

That’s a shame, because Orton exceeded many a fantasy owners’ expectations for the 2009 campaign with Denver by tossing multiple TDs in seven contests last year and tossing 200-plus yards in 10 contests (including a 431-yard game against Kansas City in the season finale).

25. (20) Matt Cassel, Kansas City, 27 (85 pts). Many expected Cassel to have a banner year. Sports Illustrated’s fantasy magazine actually asked the question of whether Cassel or Tom Brady would have a better year in 2009 (which is just one of many reasons I detest fantasy magazines).

However, Cassel lost his primary weapon, Dwayne Bowe, for most of the season and struggled to produce consistent statistical performances.

In 2010, however, Bowe should be back on the field (barring any unforeseen knuckle-headedness) and Cassel should thrive under new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. Bowe is a definite sleeper candidate in most dynasty formats.

Other QBs of note:

While neither Alex Smith nor Michael Vick scored high enough to make the composite top-25 QB rankings via the websites listed above, I have both ranked in my personal dynasty QB rankings.

Smith (my 22nd ranked QB) didn’t start until Week 7, but still finished the season with 18 TD in the final 11 weeks – seven of which he threw for 200-plus yards in, as well. He has one of the most talented young WRs in the league to throw to (Michael Crabtree) and Vernon Davis has emerged as an elite pass-catching tight end.

It also helps that Smith has one of the league’s best targets out of the backfield in Frank Gore and that the Niners are habitually playing from behind in a fairly defensively depleted NFC-West.

Michael Vick (my 24th-ranked QB) was decent in spot play for the Eagles this season in his comeback to the NFL after dogfighting and animal cruelty charges landed Vick in prison. Vick wants to play for a team that will allow him to start, and there are several teams in need of a starting QB. My prediction, the Rams, would put Vick in a position to make plays and provide fantasy production for those who are willing to take a gamble on him.

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Warner and his greatest show on turf with the Rams in the earliest part of the decade was fantastic. Over the last few years he brought that kind of real and fantasy football excitement to a Cardinals organization that really needed a kick in the pants.

The Cardinals rode to the Super Bowl on Warner’s arm in 2008-09.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Warner is a sure-fire Hall of Fame quarterback. Considering he cut his teeth in the Arena Football League after playing at the University of Northern Iowa, then stormed into the NFL as an All-Pro like he did, his story is one of the greatest since I started watching football.

Let’s review some stats/accomplishments:

• Three seasons of more than 4,000 yards passing
• Three seasons of 30 or more touchdowns, including one with 41
• Career quarterback rating of 93.7
• Two-time MVP
• Five time Pro-Bowler
• Career stats: 32,344 yards, 208 TDs, 128 interceptions in 12 years
• Only quarterback to throw for more than 14,000 yards with two different teams.
• Second quarterback to throw for at least 100 TDs with two different teams
• Most yards passing in a Super Bowl, both the single game record and the career record
• Tied with Joe Montana for the most TD passes in a single postseason

He’s got several other accomplishments linking him with greats like Johnny Unitas, Steve Young, Peyton Manning and Dan Marino.

Warner’s departure hurts the fantasy values of Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston and Early Doucet. It would appear to increase Beanie Wells‘ and Tim Hightower‘s fantasy values, but I’m not buying that yet.

I can’t see beyond the statistics because I didn’t watched Matt Leinart play, but his statistics were less than impressive in some spot appearances in 2009.

If Leinart’s ineffectiveness continues into 2010, defenses will stack the line and take away the value Wells and Hightower appeared to gain with Warner’s retirement.

For reference: Wells is signed through 2014; Fitzgerald and Leinart are signed through 2012; Doucet and Hightower are signed through 2011; Boldin is a free agent in 2011; Steve Breaston is a restricted free agent this offseason.

What are your thoughts on Warner’s career and Leinart’s prospects as Cardinals quarterback in 2010?

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I have no excuse, just an apology, and a look at some potential waiver wire adds. Your deadline and the starting time of my real job creep ever closer, so short and fast this week:

Davone Bess – Yes, Ricky Williams had a great game, but the Dolphins only ran the ball 31 times. There are going to be a couple more passes going around without Ronnie Brown around and Bess, who had six catches for 63 yards is a potential Pee-Pee-Aaaaarrrgh pirate. Sorry, I’m tired.

Rock Cartwright – So, Ladell Betts is done for the year with torn ligaments. Cartwright had 13 carries for 57 yards and led the team with seven catches, 73 receiving yards and eight targets.

Mohamed Massaquoi – We’ve touted him here off and on, but in that ridiculous Browns-Lions tilt, he had five catches for 115 yards and a TD. He led the team with 12 targets, twice as many as anybody else. For reference WR Chansi Stuckey, WR Josh Cribbs and TE Michael Gaines scored the other receiving TDs for the Browns. If you’re really hurting, you could think about adding Stuckey and Cribbs.

Brandon Pettigrew – Had six catches for 72 yards and the game-winning TD. More importantly, he was second on the team with eight targets. Only Calvin Johnson had more. Again, for the record, RB Aaron Brown and TE Will Heller scored receiving TDs, but I don’t think they’re worth owning.

Brady Quinn – It came against the Lions, but this will definitely boost Quinn’s confidence. He was 21-for-33 for 304 yards, 4 TD passes and finished with a 133.1 QB rating.

Matt Stafford – Wasn’t as impressive as Quinn, but still threw five TDs and for 422 yards. A Rookie QB on a team that trails a lot is going to throw 17 incompletions and two picks in games. He’s also going to top 300 yards and throw a TD or two in garbage time.

JerMichael Finley – He’s liked here at the Chinstrap Ninjas offices, and didn’t disappoint Sunday with seven catches and 54 yards. He led the team with 10 targets.

Brandon Jackson – Only had four catches for 16 yards, but had six catches for 65 yards and seven targets. I’m not buying him right now.

Chris Chambers – After his four-catch, 119-yard performance against the Steelers on Sunday, he should be owned in every league.

Justin Forsett – Had a TD, but also only nine yards on nine carries. He did, however, lead the team with eight catches, 80 yards and 9 targets.

Jason Snelling – Hope you guys picked up on Snelling last week. He had 89 total yards, 2 TDs on 28 touches. You’re going to have a tougher time getting him this week.

Kevin Boss – Hasn’t been used much in the Giants passing game this year, but broke through with a career day on Sunday. He had five catches for 76 yards and two TDs. He was targeted eight times.

Pierre Garcon – Garcon had six catches for 108 yards and had eight targets. Austin Collie caught his only target for 12 yards. Own Garcon.

Matt Leinart – Went 10-for-14 and amassed 74 yards. Leinart didn’t throw any TDs or picks in relief of an injured Kurt Warner. Warner might be able to go for the next game, but Warner owners want to handcuff Leinart before they absolutely need him.

Brandon Gibson – While Donnie Avery led the Rams with 65 yards receiving, Gibson had 10 more targets than him (17-7). Gibson finished with five catches and 61 yards.

Mike Tolbert – The Chargers fullback had seven carries for 58 yards and a TD. Both Tolbert and Jacob Hester were more productive than Darren Sproles as San Diego tried to run out the clock.

Bernard Scott – Impressive in the preseason, Scott carried some marginally high expectations into the season. He may not continue an ascension to superstar status, but Scott’s 119 yards rushing and three catches for 32 yards are a nice start.

Bruce Gradkowski – Went 17-for-34 with a pick, two TDs and 183 yards. More importantly for the Raiders, he got a win. That’s bad news for the Ninjas – no more JaMarcus Russell jokes.

Kahlil Bell – Had a nice 72-yard run for the Bears. He had three other carries and only got 9 yards out of them. But with Matt Forte’s inconsistency this year, don’t be surprised if Bell gets significant touches the rest of the way.

Jason Avant – Only targeted five times and only had four catches for 26 yards, but he did score a TD. Jeremy Maclin had six catches for 64 yards on nine targets, the second most targeted by Donovan McNabb. This feels like it could be Collie vs. Garcon-lite. I’d rather own Maclin.

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And considering that most fantasy trades take time to develop, now is the time to really assess your team and determine if you need to make some moves.

Notice that your team is weak at a certain position? Lacking depth in key areas? Think you are out of contention in your dynasty league and looking to rebuild for 2010? Now is the time for action.

Obviously the mantra for most successful trading is to sell high and buy low.

Here are some position-by-position players to consider trading away or dealing for before the coming trade deadline.

Quarterbacks

Trade for:

Kurt Warner, ARI. Coming off one of the worst games of his career against the Panthers last week (27-for-46 for 242 yards and five interceptions), Warner’s stock is very low at the moment. He’s 16th in scoring among all fantasy QBs. However, Warner has a really easy schedule coming up … one almost too easy for quarterbacks to have significant value. However, the Cardinals offense is centered around the pass. With playmakers in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to throw to, Warner’s numbers can’t continue to be this pedestrian. Warner’s best statistical outputs came against the three easiest teams during the first eight weeks: Jacksonville, Houston and Seattle. Now after a game in Week 9 where the Cardinals match up with an up and down Chicago defense, Arizona then plays Seattle, St. Louis, Tennessee, Minnesota (yes, the Vikings are weak in passing defense), San Francisco, Detroit and St. Louis. Warner should be targetted the hardest in all redraft leagues. It is hard to imagine him having much value beyond this season, however. If you do land Warner, make sure to pick up Matt Leinart off waivers … if Warner does somehow struggle against cupcake teams like he did against Carolina, Leinart could see more action in an offense that is loaded with talent.

Alex Smith, SF. Warner too expensive for your wallet? Try Smith for a cheap source of stats the rest of the way. Smith has fared well since taking over the reins from Shaun Hill two weeks ago, and has a sexy-good slate of opposing defenses down the stretch. The Niners finish with Tennessee, Chicago, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Seattle, Arizona, Philadelphia and Detroit. San Francisco’s young receiving corps is improving with time, especially rookie Michael Crabtree, who had six catches for 81 yards against the Colts.

Trade away:

Matt Schaub, HOU. It may seem crazy to deal away a player that has probably carried your team this season, and who is currently the second-highest fantasy scoring QB in the NFL at the moment. However, it is hard to imagine him keeping up his torrid pace. He lost one of his most trusted receiving options (tight end Owen Daniels is out for the season), and the Texans still have their bye on the horizon (week 10). Plus, Houston has some really questionable matchups in the near future, including two against the Colts in the next four weeks and Miami in what will be the championship game of many fantasy leagues. Questions about Steve Slaton’s availability moving forward thanks to issues with fumbles means that Schaub may see yet another hit in his receiving options.

Brett Favre, MIN. He is tied with Matt Schaub for the lead in QB touchdown throws this year. He is coming off a 33-point performance (in leagues where he earned six points per TD and one point per 25 yards passing) in his revenge match against the Green Bay Packers. After this week’s bye, however, the Vikings play a series of games against teams who are mediocre at best. Favre won’t be needed to carry the team … it will be Adrian Peterson’s show for the forseeable future. Plus, Favre followed this same pattern last season — playing great the first half of the season until injuries took their toll and slowed him the rest of the way. Not saying he’ll break down again this year — he does have a much better supporting cast in Minnesota — but there is always the possibility.

Running backs

Trade for:

Ronnie Brown, MIA. Remember the mantra: Buy low, sell high. Ronnie owners are seething right now after consecutive weeks of Ricky Williams stealing Brown’s thunder. Add in an unfavorable matchup for Miami this week in New England, and you have all the ingredients for a good buy-low stew. However, you can forget Ricky Williams after this week … the Dolphins play such a run-friendly slate the rest of the way, there will be plenty of stats to go around. Starting in Week 10, Miami plays Tampa Bay, Carolina, Buffalo, New England, Jacksonville, Tennessee and Houston. Brown, who is integral for the team’s wildcat scheme and catches his fair share of passes, as well, will see much better days as the season progresses. Pounce now, or kick yourself later.

Beanie Wells, ARI. In redraft leagues, many are nervous that Tim Hightower will continue to eat away at Beanie’s opportunities. However, watching both players, it is obvious that Wells has so much more to offer in terms of explosiveness, big-play ability and all-around potential. The Cardinals are struggling this season and need to find their identity. The passing game isn’t the cure-all it was last year, and it is just a matter of time until Wells becomes the team’s defacto go-to weapon. Too boot, the Cardinals have a sweet schedule the rest of the way, especially during the fantasy playoffs, where Beanie will be lighting up the fantasy scoreboard against the Lions and Rams, respectively.

Trade away:

Matt Forte, CHI. You trade players when their value is maxed out, and that is exactly where Forte is at the moment. There have been few players more disappointing this season as Forte — a consensus top-five pick in most fantasy drafts this summer. He has struggled against all except the easiest of opposing teams (only decent games were against Detroit and Cleveland), and has a slew of challenging matchups as the season progresses. The kicker is looking ahead to the fantasy playoff weeks, where Forte plays arguably the toughest run defense slate in back-to-back contests with Baltimore and Minnesota.

Michael Turner, ATL. It amazes me how much love this guy got in PPR leagues to start the season considering how uninvolved he is in the Falcons passing game. This year, he has just three catches all season, and has struggled to be the TD machine that defined his breakout campaign in 2008. He is coming off 151 yards rushing and a TD against the New Orleans Saints, but has a smattering of really tough defenses in the horizon. His Week 16 (typical fantasy championship) matchup with Buffalo is really juicy, but his play the rest of the fantasy regular season may doom any chances of you getting to that point.

Wide receivers

Trade for:

Calvin Johnson, DET. Say what you will about Calvin’s recent injury woes and the inconsistent rookie play at quarterback for the Lions … the bottom line is that when Megatron plays, he produces. His last full game of action was a Week 4 matchup with the Bears in which he had eight catches for 133 yards. As soon as he returns to the field, expect instant dividends, and all signs are pointing towards a return this week. The remaining schedule is passing-friendly, and Calvin will finish the year ranked up where he belongs — among the WR elite.

Steve Smith, CAR. Has any player underperformed as hideously as Steve Smith this year? Much like the much-hyped Carolina Panthers, Smith has been non-existent. He has found himself riding the fantasy pine in many leagues and even dropped by a few short-sighted managers. However, look closer to his performance the past two weeks … a 6-for-99 outing against Buffalo and a 3-for-56 (and a long-awaited TD) against Arizona this past week. The Panthers made a statement against the Cardinals, and it wouldn’t be far-fetched to expect the team to start riding that momentum to a much-needed torrid stretch. Smith will rebound, and he can be had at the moment for a few empty peanut shells.

Trade away:

Donald Driver, GB. Currently the 12th-highest scoring receiver in football, it is hard to expect Driver to keep up the pace for an entire season. Aaron Rodgers struggles to stay upright game in and game out due to a horrific O-line. Rodgers has also mastered the art of spreading around his passes (especially recently) and Greg Jennings, who has a much higher ceiling, is primed to cut more and more into Drivers’ production.

Steve Smith, NYG. After an amazingly torrid start to the season, Smith has cooled off considerably. He hasn’t scored a TD in four straight games and hasn’t had over 100 yards receiving since his Week 4 matchup with Kansas City. The Giants are really spreading the ball around, and Smith will continue to struggle with consistency down the stretch because of that. Thanks to such a huge start, Smith still has plenty of trade interest in fantasy circles … but if you can swing him for Calvin Johnson or Steve Smith, than by all means, go for it.

Tight ends

Trade for:

Jason Witten, DAL. No one in their right mind would have expected Witten to be 16th among all tight ends at this point in the season in terms of fantasy scoring. A major reason for that was the emergence of Miles Austin. What makes Witten’s numbers so deceiving is that he’s scored just one TD all season. It isn’t that he’s not targeted in the offense — in fact, he’s tied for fourth in the league in receptions (with Antonio Gates and Brent Celek). As Austin demands more and more attention from opposing defenses, the short passing game will get more breathing room and Witten will start notching some touchdowns. He’s about as cheap as he’ll be all season.

Jermichael Finley, GB. This is more a dynasty league suggestion than anything else, but Finley has proven that he’s the apple of Rodgers’ eye when it comes to tight ends on the Packers. Finley has been sidelined with a knee injury, and will likely miss this week’s contest against Tampa Bay. However, Finley will be explosive again when he returns and should be a top tight end for years to come if he can build off the momentum he started with a 6-for-128 performance against Minnesota in Week 4.

Trade away:

Vernon Davis, SF. Davis looks like a favorite of new QB Alex Smith. However, his stats are greatly inflated from his 7-for-93 (with three TD) game against Houston during Week 7. Since then, the team has welcomed rookie Michael Crabtree into the fold, and Crabtree continues to see more and more looks and action in the passing game. Davis will be affected the most by this. I’m not saying he won’t still have some solid games … just that they’ll sporadic moving forward.

Which players are you targeting in your respective leagues? Which are you looking to move? Using your suggestions, I’d love to develop a comprehensive list of guys you should be targeting as the trade deadline looms.

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Not all of the stats are completely finalized at the time of this writing, but it’s definitely close enough for us to analyze.

I promise not to be too exhaustive here, just some capsule analysis for each game.

All I’ve got is box scores, highlights and the two games I managed to get time to watch this week. If you’ve got more insight – like DirectTV and an open schedule on Sundays – please feel free to add whatever you know. The Chinstrap Ninjas would be very grateful.

On to the games:

Carolina 20, Atlanta 28

Jake Delhomme bounced back from his horrendous first week, throwing for 308 yards, tossing quite a few balls to Steve Smith. Was Week 1 the belch or Week 2? We’ll see in Week 3, but I’m guessing the Panthers passing offense will fall somewhere in between.

Matt Ryan threw three TD passes and was 21 for 27. He is as good as advertised. Michael Turner on the other hand, I’m not so sure. He only had 108 yards, which is good, but not nearly as dominant as people drafting him in the top 3 expected.

Minnesota 27, Detroit 13

Talk about belch, Detroit led at freaking halftime in a game that should have been an Adrian Peterson-fest. Peterson finished with under 100 yards and only one TD. Against Detroit. After their performance in Week 1 against New Orleans, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say the Lions are a much better team than they were in 2008.

It might only lead to two or three wins, but that’s a 300 percent improvement in Detroit.

Brett Favre was 23 for 27 with a 115.5 passer rating. Looking at those numbers, I’m surprised they didn’t try to open things up a little more.

Kevin Smith continues to be a focal point for the Lions, 24 carries for 83 yards and two catches for 10 yards.

Cincinnatti 31, Green Bay 24

First of all, the Bengals won this game?

Second, Cedric Benson’s actually good. He rushed for 149 yards at 4.9 per touch.

While the Packers D scored a TD, the Bengals D sacked Aaron Rodgers six times and held Ryan Grant to just 46 yards. Win.

Texans 34, Titans 31

Chris Johnson is fast and a good football player: 197 rushing and nine catches for 87 yards receiving with 3 TDs. However, it would have been more impressive it the Texans would have put a body on him at any point during the game. He was barely touched on his long plays.

Normally, when one player is going off like that, it doesn’t leave much room for anybody else to do anything, however, he left a little too much time on the clock for the Texans.

Matt Schaub threw for 357 and 4 TDs, and 10-149-2 went to Andre Johnson. Meanwhile, Owen Daniels (6-72-1) and Jacoby Jones (2-73-1) also had impressive days.

Oakland 13, Kansas City 10

I already talked a little about how pathetic these teams are in yesterday’s Day of Reckoning, but there are still a few notable points:

The Raiders pathetic, to call it an offense would insult offenses around the world, is run through JaMarcus Russell who was 7-for-24 for 109 yards. I could go 7-for-24 throwing lefthanded against the Chiefs.

Larry Johnson had 24 carries for 78 yards. If it was against anyone other than the Raiders, Lions or his own team, I’d be impressed.

Chiefs WR Bobby Wade had six catches for 72 yards, but you still don’t want him on your team. If Matt Cassel couldn’t even beat JaMarcus Russell, it’s going to be a long season in KC.

Patriots 9, NY Jets 16

Guh?! The Patriots juggernaut didn’t even score a touchdown.

The Jets defense made sure Julian Edelman was the only player that was beating them, and he wasn’t beating them too hard either.

Mark Sanchez had a 101.1 QB rating throwing for 163 yards and a score. If Sanchez and the defense can continue to pair up that kind of performance, the rookie may follow the same path Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco did last season, right into the playoffs.

New Orleands 48, Philadelphia 22

Kevin Kolb is not very good. My jaw hit the floor when he hit DeSean Jackson on that 71-yard bomb early in the game.  Yes, he threw for 391 yards. But he also threw three picks and they seemed to come at the worst possible time.

However, all bets are off for next week, he faces easy money Kansas City.

Eagles TE Brent Celek benefited from the game’s passtacularity. He had 8 catches for 104 yards. Jason Avant also had 7 catches for 79 yards.

Avant will have another game or two like that this season, but he won’t do it consistently enough for you to need to pick him up.

Of course, if Celek is still available for some reason in your league, pick him up.

injuries to Mike Bell, DeSean Jackson and Brian Westbrook are worth monitoring.

Rams 7, Redskins 9

Most notable from this game, Steven Jackson was not completely terrible. He rushed for more than 100 yards and caught 4 passes.

Laurent Robinson caught six passes and scored a touchdown, keeping himself fantasy relevant for another week.

Clinton Portis was OK, but most everyone was expecting more out of him.

Chris Cooley didn’t disappoint in his good matchup, catching seven passes for 83 yards.

Cardinals 31, Jaguars 17

Tim Hightower outperformed Maurice Jones-Drew and Mike Sims-Walker outperformed Larry Fitzgerald. I’ll pause for a minute while you digest all those names and all that hyphenation.

Kurt Warner was a steamy 24-for-26 with 243 yards and two scoring plays before he hurt his shoulder. Matt Leinart had a 59.9 QB rating in his limited action.

I shouldn’t need to tell you to monitor Warner’s status.

Seattle 10, San Francisco 23

Everybody knows by this point that this was Frank Gore’s game and that Matt Hasselbeck got McNabbed in the rib.

Much like all of last season, without Hasselbeck the Seahawks were declawed (detaloned?). Even if Hasselbeck can go next week, temper expectations.

Buccaneers 20, Bills 33

The Bills D hit Byron Leftwich 12 times, sacked him twice and Donte Whitner snagged a 76-yard pick 6.

The seven catches for 96 yards and a TD out of Kellen Winslow was kind of expected with Antonio Bryant out. But Cadillac Williams’ seven catches for 56 yards and a TD was not expected.

Cadillac is looking like a must-start focal point of the offense-type player this season.

Steelers 14, Bears 17

I went into the Johnny Knox thing in the Monday update, but keep an eye on Kellen Davis. The tight end only had 38 yards to go with his score, but caught 5 passes. Could he and Knox cut into Greg Olsen and Earl Bennett’s targets for the rest of the season?

The Steelers wide receivers had the second best matchup in the NFL last week. No TDs and only 11 catches between Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward was pretty unimpressive. At least Holmes averaged 16.6 per catch.

Ravens 31, chargers 26

I said it yesterday, I’ll say it again. The Ravens are a Super Bowl caliber team.

As much as it seems like Darren Sproles is the only Chargers RB worth starting right now, the Ravens didn’t shut down Michael Bennett. Bennett averaged 4,8 yards on his four carries. If LaDainian Tomlinson misses another game, Bennett might be a sneaky start.

Browns 6, Broncos 27

Kyle Orton threw for 263 and a TD!

But, Brandon Marshall is still invisible – three catches for 34 yards. Orton’s big guns were Jabar Gaffney (3-82) and Brandon Stokley (5-70). Unless you’re seriously hurting, you don’t want either of them on your fantasy roster.

Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno split the good RB matchup, but Buckhalter seemed like the better runner.

They finished with nearly identical yardage, but Buckhalter averaged 8.4 per carry to Moreno’s 4.4. And Buckhalter had 30 yard catch, too.

Giants 33, Cowboys 31

Another game I went into good detail with on Monday, but Felix Jones is worth mentioning.

I’ve touted him all preseason. Jones had the first fumble of his career, but was electric with seven carries for 95 yards and a  touchdown. And Barber still got his, just as I’ve expected all along.

I talked a lot about Mario Manningham, but Steve Smith had just as many catches (10) and almost as many yards (134) as the out of nowhere product from Michigan. Nobody expected either receiver to be explosive coming out of college, but they looked pretty explosive Sunday night.

Colts 27, Dolphins 23

Watching this game made me realize how difficult it is to analyze games without actually watching.

If you just look at the box score, you never get how dynamic the Dolphins’ new Wildcat is. There’s all sorts of misdirection and multiple runners carrying the ball. The Dolphins are already revolutionizing the ’cat and it is better.

Ronnie Brown ran for 136 yards and two scores with the biggest chunks coming on Wildcat plays.

But despite the Wildcat, Brown and an 11-catch, 108-yard game by Ted Ginn, the Dolphins lost.

Peyton Manning was particularly masterful, throwing for more than 300 yards and two TDs and getting TE Dallas Clark heavily involved. Clark had seven catches for 183 yards and an 80-yard TD.

Like I said at the top, if you have anything to add, please do. If there’s something you disagree with, let us know. Comments are below.

Also, what do you guys think about the format? Would it be better/easier if each game got it’s own post? That’s a big ol’ wall of text up there.

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