Game Face

If your team is in the middle of the pack of your fantasy football league’s standings at this point, it’s time to shake up your lineup to have any shot at the playoffs.

Luckily, there may be some potential difference makers still available. Not only should these players be owned in every league of 12 teams or more, they should probably be in someone’s starting lineup.

Tyler Thigpen, QB, Kansas City
Thigpen has thrown for eight touchdowns and averaged 247 yards in his last three games, placing him in the top three of all fantasy quarterbacks during that span.

And Thigpen’s remaining schedule is soft. After this week’s tough game against Oakland
(10th against the pass), Thigpen faces Denver, San Diego and Miami; all have pass defenses ranked in the bottom eight of the league. Somehow, Thigpen is owned in just 45 percent of Yahoo leagues.

By Ryan Chatelain

The matchup was unfavorable to say the least: Brandon Jacobs vs. the Ravens, the NFL’s second-stingiest team against the run.

Owners of Jacobs who had another strong running back option likely benched the Giants standout. Those who started him hoped he could grind out at least a touchdown.

Here is Jacobs’ surprising stat line after the first quarter on Sunday: eight rushes, 70 yards and two scores. (With a large lead and an ailing knee, Jacobs only carried the ball once more during Big Blue’s 30-10 rout of Baltimore.)

Sometimes fantasy footballers pay too much attention to matchups. Yes, they are a vital tool for setting your lineup, but there are times when it’s best to look the other way.

Michael Turner of the Atlanta Falcons (Photo by Getty Images)

By Ryan Chatelain

No one wants to see their fantasy football team cruise through the regular season only to bow out in the first round of the playoffs.

To avoid going one-and-done in the postseason, it’s important to look ahead to your players’ matchups in weeks 15 and 16, the fantasy playoffs in most leagues.

If any of your players have especially brutal games those weeks, you might want to think of a Plan B -- either trade him for someone with a more promising postseason slate or make sure you have a reliable option on your bench.

Here are five players with particularly unfavorable matchups in the fantasy playoffs:

Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta
The Falcons’ breakout star will meet Tampa Bay (11th in the NFL against the run) in Week 15 and Minnesota (third) in Week 16. That’s particularly bad news for Turner owners considering he has been superb against poor defenses but unimpressive against quality defenses. The Buccaneers, for example, held Turner to 42 yards rushing earlier this season.

By Ryan Chatelain

It can be difficult to let go, especially when one of your fantasy players is performing well or has an All-Pro reputation.

But as I wrote last week, predicting any sudden rises or falls in a player’s value can be an important ingredient on your way to building a championship team.

The following players will have a difficult road throughout the remainder of the fantasy regular season. It’s time to at least consider cashing in on their recent success or big-name status by trading for a player with a rosier future.

Braylon Edwards, WR, Cleveland
Edwards, who has treated footballs like hot potatoes this season, has failed to reach 60 yards receiving in five of his six games. Although he has nice matchups in two of his next three games (against Jacksonville on Sunday and against Denver in Week 10), he also faces four top-10 pass defenses before the end of the fantasy regular season (Week 14 in most leagues).

Edwards’ 154-yard performance on “Monday Night Football” in Week 6 might have been just the ticket to raise his trade value. But act fast before he turns in another stinker.

By Ryan Chatelain
ryan.chatelain@am-ny.com

Unless you’re one of the fortunate few to have a bench loaded with talent, trading in fantasy football is often counterproductive. You might improve your team’s running back situation, but does it make much sense if you’re sacrificing a star quarterback?

That’s why, in an attempt to gain more value than their giving up, fantasy football diehards throw around stock market terms such as “buy low” and “sell high.” They’re trying to predict which players will soon experience a hot streak or a slump.

As the trading season heats up, here are five players who are buy-lows. (Next week: sell-highs.)

Torry Holt, WR, Rams
Usually a sure bet for 90 catches and 1,100 yards, Holt is on pace for just 64 catches and 672 yards this season. But new coach Jim Haslett, who led St. Louis to an upset win over the Redskins on Sunday, might have breathed new life into the Rams. And more important for Holt (pictured), seven of St. Louis’ next eight games are against teams with pass defenses ranked in the bottom half of the league.

Thomas Jones, RB, Jets
When looking at opposing run defenses, no team has an easier schedule through Week 14 – the end of the fantasy regular season in most leagues -- than the Jets. Jones, who scored three touchdowns last week against the Bengals, should shine against foes such as Kansas City, St. Louis, Denver and San Francisco.

Jake Delhomme, QB, Carolina
Carolina faces just one top-10 pass defense through Week 14. Forget about his dismal performance Sunday against Carolina; Delhomme should have big games against aerial lightweights New Orleans, Oakland, Detroit and Atlanta.

Deuce McAllister, RB, New Orleans
Over the first few weeks of the season, the Saints remained cautious with McAllister, coming off two offseason knee surgeries. But New Orleans is utilizing him more now as the Saints face a string of mediocre run defenses.

Zach Miller, TE, Oakland
Miller is the Raiders’ leading receiver. OK, that might not be much to brag about, but his remaining schedule includes games against the Jets, Falcons, Dolphins, Broncos and Chargers, who have all struggled mightily against the pass.

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BYE WEEK FILL-INS

Some options to replace your prized players who may have Week 7 off:

Brad Johnson, QB, Dallas (vs. St. Louis). It’s not often you can grab a starting QB on a very good offensive team that is playing an abysmal defense.

Sammy Morris, RB, New England (vs. Denver). He’s the Patriots’ leading rusher, is a goal-line threat and is facing a defense that has allowed more fantasy points to running backs than any team in the NFL.

Kevin Walter, WR, Houston (vs. Detroit). Walter has been a top-13 fantasy receiver over the past three weeks, and the Lions are ranked 30th against the pass.

Robert Royal, TE, Buffalo (vs. Chargers). San Diego has given up five TDs to tight ends, two more than any other team in the league.

Matt Bryant, K, Tampa Bay (vs. Seattle). Bryant has kicked at least two field goals in five of six games.

Jets defense (vs. Oakland). The Jets have a mediocre real-life defense, but thanks to 10 turnovers and a pair of touchdowns, they have a top-10 fantasy defense.

Photo by Getty Images

Allison Lodish is a fantasy sports widow.

In August, Lodish, 35, of Kentfield, Calif., and two others launched Women Against Fantasy Sports (womenagainstfantasysports.com) as a humorous jab at fantasy addicts who neglect their significant others.

The site, which includes a forum for fantasy victims to vent, has quickly found a following and is even selling apparel, including panties that read “CLOSED For the Fantasy Season.”

I asked Lodish about the site and for tips on how we can avoid taking our love for fantasy sports too far.

amNY: Why are you against fantasy sports?

Lodish: I started the site because my husband took it from being a hobby to being almost a full-time job. He really started spending so much time that it was driving me crazy. So I started the site as sort of a playful retaliation and just a place for people to poke some fun and share some stories.

amNY: The site seems like it has caught on pretty quickly. Are you surprised by the response?

Lodish: I had an idea that we would have some sort of effect. I had no idea it would be so much so quickly, and it’s great. I think it just shows that we struck a nerve.

amNY: What are the worst stories you’ve heard about a fantasy sports addict neglecting a significant other?

Lodish: My favorite is the one about the husband. He and his wife had just got married. They were on their honeymoon night — they literally had just got married. They were up in the honeymoon suite. He said he was going to check on the flight for the next day, and he actually went down into the lobby to make a trade.

And then there’s a woman who had her baby in the beginning of August, and her husband had his fantasy draft that night and left her.

amNY: Give me some pointers on how we can find some middle ground and still play fantasy sports but not neglect our significant others.

Lodish: I would just try to say keep it to less than double digits during the week as far as hours spent. Try to just keep one computer on at a time. It’s really just creating a balance. And you know, bribery could work with some people. Not me, but with others for sure.

amNY: And what about talking to our friends on the phone about our teams?

Lodish: Do you need to? Just be sneaky. What we don’t know won’t hurt us. That’s my motto.

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BYE WEEK FILL-INS

Some options to replace any of your prized players who have Week 6 off:

Gus Frerotte, QB, Vikings (vs. Lions). The 15-year veteran faces the 29th-ranked pass defense.

Justin Fargas, RB, Raiders (vs. New Orleans). A lot of owners gave up on Fargas, a 1,000-yard rusher last season, after he injured his groin. (He’s only owned in 29% of Yahoo leagues.) He’s expected to return this week.

Matt Jones, WR, Jaguars (vs. Denver). He’s caught at least five passes in four of five games.

Dustin Keller, TE, Jets (vs. Cincinnati). He has TD receptions in each of the last two games, a sign that Brett Favre trusts the rookie near the goal line.

Jason Elam, K, Falcons (vs. Chicago). He’s made multiple field goals in four of five games this season and gets the Bears indoors.

Panthers defense (vs. Tampa Bay). It’s hard to believe that the Carolina D, a top-eight fantasy defense, is still available in 68 percent of ESPN.com leagues.

Darrelle Revis (24) and Dwight Lowery celebrate an interception earlier this season. (Photo by Getty)

Two weeks ago, you might have been licking your chops over the prospect of the dependable, punishing Patriots defense facing the inept Dolphins offense.

New England was sure to rack up solid, if not ridiculous, fantasy numbers against a team that averaged just 12 points in its first two games. No way could you lose, right?

Then Miami running back Ronnie Brown gutted the Patriots like a dead fish and had a hand in five touchdowns — four rushing and one passing.

The Patriots, who rank 24th among fantasy defenses in standard scoring leagues, aren’t alone. Jacksonville and Dallas are also among the highly regarded units on draft day that have not lived up to expectations.

It may be time to move in another direction, or at least add a second defense and play the best matchups week to week.

Don’t think defenses make a huge difference in fantasy football? In Week 3 against Pittsburgh, the Eagles allowed just six points, forced three turnovers, amassed eight sacks and scored a safety — a total of 24 fantasy points.

Here are some defenses likely still available in your league that are worth taking a chance on.

Jets
After allowing 83 points in their last two games, the Jets are surprisingly the eighth-best fantasy defense to date. Gang Green has made up for its shortcomings by forcing nine turnovers and scoring two touchdowns.

Six of the Jets’ next nine contests are against offenses ranked 20th or worse, including Cincinnati, Oakland and Kansas City in consecutive games after this week’s bye.

Redskins
While their fantasy numbers don’t look stellar, the Redskins have held some high-octane offenses — the Giants, Saints and Cowboys — in check thus far.

Things are about to get easier for Washington. After a tough game this Sunday against the Eagles, the Redskins will enter a stretch in which they’ll play four of the NFL’s seven worst offenses: St. Louis, Cleveland, Detroit and Pittsburgh.

Colts
The Colts were the league’s stingiest in points allowed last season. Seven of their next nine games come against offenses ranked in the bottom half of the league, including the Ravens, Browns and Bengals. However, don’t expect monster fantasy numbers from the Indianapolis defense until safety Bob Sanders returns from ankle and knee injuries. He’s expected back in late October.

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BYE WEEK FILL-INS
Some options to replace any of your prized players who have Week 5 off:

Warrick Dunn, RB, Buccaneers (vs. Denver). The 33-year-old wonder has been a top-30 fantasy running back thus far.

Lance Moore, WR, Saints (vs. Minnesota). With Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey out with injuries, Moore is developing into Drew Brees’ favorite target in the interim.

Anthony Fasano, TE, Dolphins (vs. San Diego). The Chargers have given up a TD to a tight end in each of their first four games.

Joe Nedney, K, 49ers (vs. Patriots). Nedney has already booted 10 field goals, two from beyond 40 yards.

Carolina defense (vs. Kansas City). The Chiefs have scored 14 or fewer points in three of their four games.

Kyle Orton, QB, Bears (vs. Detroit). Orton has thrown five scores in his past two games.

Carson Palmer has some tough matchups ahead. (Photo by Getty)

So that can’t-miss draft pick can’t do anything right, and you’re already contemplating a move to help salvage your season.

It’s true that some of the NFL’s biggest names have accounted for fantasy football’s biggest disappointments through the first two weeks. But that doesn’t necessarily mean success isn’t just around the corner for them.

Here’s a glimpse at some of those stars and their prospects for snapping out of early-season funks.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego
L.T.’s ailing toe can be blamed for his slow start (he ranks 34th among running backs in standard-scoring leagues), but the injury isn’t considered serious. People also tend to forget that Tomlinson stumbled out of the gates in 2007, only to finish yet another season as the top fantasy running back.

Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis
Manning missed the entire preseason with a knee injury and then returned to find his security blanket, center Jeff Saturday, out with his own knee problems — a torn MCL. Since 2000, Saturday had started all but two games for the Colts entering this season. Saturday opted out of surgery on his knee and could return this week, meaning Manning will soon get his groove back.

Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati
Yes, Palmer has encountered tough matchups this month against Baltimore and Tennessee. But 228 yards passing, three interceptions and no touchdowns through two games? Something is clearly wrong in the Queen City, and it starts with the Bengals’ inept running game. The schedule doesn’t get much easier for Palmer. His next five opponents include the Giants, Cowboys and Steelers.

Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City
Johnson only managed 22 yards rushing against a Raiders defense that yielded 146 yards per game on the ground in 2007. L.J. appears to be a victim of the Chiefs’ lack of a threat at quarterback and poor blocking from the offensive line.

Randy Moss, WR, New England
While the “Freak” will undoubtedly see his stats take a hit without Tom Brady around, Moss still racked up 116 yards with Matt Cassel at quarterback for most of the season opener. The key to Moss’ success will be for Cassel to get No. 3 receiver Jabar Gaffney more involved in the offense so that defenses worry a little less about Moss.

Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis
The Rams have the NFL’s worst offense and defense thus far. As a result, St. Louis will find itself down big on the scoreboard often, limiting Jackson’s second-half carries. Jackson, thanks in part to his pass-catching skills, should probably stick around in your starting lineup, but you should lower your expectations.

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WEEK 3: PLAYERS TO START AND SIT
Start
Brett Favre, QB, Jets (vs. San Diego). Favre’s completing nearly 70 percent of his throws, and the Chargers’ pass defense is ranked 31st in the NFL.

LenDale White, RB, Titans (vs. Houston). White is clearly the goal-line back in Tennessee, and Houston gave up three rushing scores in Week 1.

David Patten, WR, New Orleans (vs. Denver). The Saints and Broncos are in the bottom five in pass defense, setting the stage for a shootout at Mile High.

Sit
David Garrard, QB, Jacksonville (vs. Indianapolis). Garrard will continue to struggle if the Jags can’t establish their running game.

Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina (vs. Minnesota). The rookie is off to a good start, but just ask the Colts’ Joseph Addai (15 carries for 20 yards in Week 2) about the Vikes’ run defense.

Roy Williams, WR, Detroit (vs. San Francisco). Williams says he feels like just “a role player.” With just six catches through two games, he’s probably right.

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Send your fantasy comments or questions to me at ryan.chatelain@am-ny.com.

Willie Parker scored more touchdowns in Week 1 than he did all of last season.

Week 1 is always the trickiest week to set your fantasy lineups. After all, it’s in the season openers when we learn the true roles of many players, news that can send an athlete’s stock soaring or plummeting.

Here are several revelations from Week 1:

Jay Cutler is poised to join the elite quarterbacks. The third-year Bronco made a statement Monday night when he passed for 299 yards and two touchdowns against a strong Raiders secondary – and that was with his favorite target, Brandon Marshall, serving a suspension.

Willie Parker is far from done. Many fantasy footballers backed off Parker because the Steelers spent their first-round draft choice on running back Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall’s preseason case of fumble-itis, however, opened the door Sunday for Parker to run for 138 yards and three touchdowns, one more score than he had in all of 2007.

Laurence Maroney shouldn’t be in your starting lineup. The Patriots running back had just as many carries (10) as teammate Sammy Morris. Maroney doesn’t catch many passes (just four last season), and when Morris was healthy in 2007, Maroney didn’t score touchdowns. Those shortcomings qualify him as a fantasy liability.

There’s a time-share in Denver. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has fooled us again when it comes to his running game. While everyone assumed Selvin Young was Denver’s featured back, it was Andre Hall who led the team in carries, with 10. Young had seven attempts.

Hold off on the Reggie “Bust” talk. Reggie Bush may not have panned out as a great traditional running back, but the Saints star is still dynamic enough to gain yards in a variety of ways. That was evident by his performance Sunday against Tampa Bay, when he had 51 yards rushing, 112 yards receiving and a touchdown.

Ahmad Bradshaw is not the Giants’ No. 2 running back. Derrick Ward had 11 offensive touches while Bradshaw had none, despite that Bradshaw was drafted higher in virtually all leagues. Giants coach Tom Coughlin says he botched the rotation and Bradshaw should see more playing time in the future. But Bradshaw’s lack of action speaks louder than Coughlin’s words.

NFL FANTASY WEEK 2: PLAYERS TO START AND SIT

Start
Eli Manning, QB, Giants (vs. St. Louis). Manning faces a Rams pass defense that gave up 414 yards to the Eagles last week.

Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh (vs. Cleveland). Ward is coming off a two-TD game and is playing against a lousy Browns secondary.

Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee (vs. Cincinnati). Fresh off his 127-yard coming-out party against the Jags, the rookie goes up against the Bengals, who gave up 229 yards on the ground in Week 1.

Sit
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle (vs. San Francisco). The Seahawks are without receivers Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and Bobby Engram and running back Maurice Morris.

Greg Lewis, WR, Philadelphia (vs. Dallas). Don’t be fooled by his 100-yard game against the Rams.

Chris Perry, RB, Cincinnati (vs. Tennessee). The new Bengals starting running back faces a Titans defense that gave up just 1.9 yards per carry to Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor last week.

If your fantasy football team stumbles out of the gates this weekend, remember this name: Frisman Jackson.

In 2005, Jackson, a Cleveland Browns wide receiver, had eight receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown in the season opener – just the type of performance that causes a knee-jerk reaction from fantasy owners unsure about their receiving corps.

Jackson proved to be a waste of a fantasy roster spot. He finished the season with 24 catches for 287 yards and never smelled the end zone again.

Far too often, fantasy footballers panic after having a disappointing Week 1. They release a good player who struggled in Week 1 for someone who will more than likely prove to be, well, a Frisman Jackson.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying never to gamble on a relatively unknown player who pops up with a monster game. After all, for every dozen Frisman Jacksons, there's a Maurice Jones-Drew or Ryan Grant – a fantasy stud who emerges from nowhere and turns a good fantasy team into a great one.

The key is to be smart about the players you pick up and release. Don't toss aside a proven or promising athlete who had a lousy season opener so that you can add a player who probably won't pan out.

Before tweaking your roster, ask yourself a couple of questions:

1. Does the player I'm considering adding have a real chance to continue his success?
For example, if Carolina wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett surprises with a big game Sunday, recognize that it would not have been possible if not for the suspension of Steve Smith.

2. Is it really time to give up on the player I'm about to release?
In 2006, many fantasy owners released Buffalo wide receiver Lee Evans after he only had four catches for 44 yards through the first two games.

I know. I was one of them.

Evans, the Bills' first-round draft choice a year earlier, ended up with nearly 1,300 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. I ended up with bruises from kicking myself.

To master the waiver wire, you must find that perfect balance. Rolling the dice here and there can be healthy. Roll them indiscriminately, and you're just begging for a Frisman Jackson.

PLAY
Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona (vs. San Francisco)
Not only did Warner toss 21 touchdowns in the final eight games of last season, he also passed for 484 yards in his only appearance against the Niners.

Selvin Young, RB, Denver (vs. Oakland)
The Raiders gave up 146 yards per game on the ground in 2007, and the Broncos always run the ball well.

Joey Galloway, WR, Tampa Bay (vs. New Orleans)
Galloway has had at least 100 yards receiving or a touchdown in his last seven games against the Saints.

BENCH
Marc Bulger, QB, St. Louis (vs. Philadelphia)
Bulger had a poor 2007 and was less than stellar in the preseason. The Eagles defense has a strong pass rush and added Pro Bowler Asante Samuel to an already good secondary.

LenDale White, RB, Tennessee (vs. Jacksonville)
White only averaged 39 yards rushing in two games against the Jaguars in 2007, and now he's expected to lose about half his carries to rookie speedster Chris Johnson.

Lee Evans, WR, Buffalo (vs. Seattle)
I might have regretted cutting him in 2006, but now I find him to be a frustratingly inconsistent player. And the Seahawks defense allowed the fewest touchdown passes in the league last season.

Ahman Green (Photo by Getty)

Read the full article by clicking here.

In addition to those who made the cut in the article, I also have tried to steer clear of these players this season:

All Texans running backs. Ahman Green is 31 years old and injured. Chris Brown is always hurt. If neither Green nor Brown is in the lineup, there’s no telling whether Chris Taylor or Steve Slaton would get the start. Save yourself some headaches and just avoid the whole complicated situation.

Cadillac Williams, RB, Tampa Bay. He suffered a pretty gruesome leg injury last season. Many wondered if it would end his career. I believe he’ll return at some point in his career, maybe even later this year. But don’t expect him to be his old self in 2008. Besides, the Bucs have enough options at running back (Earnest Graham, Michael Bennett and Warrick Dunn) to keep Cadillac parked so that he can fully recover.

Santana Moss, WR, Redskins. He’s not awful as a No. 4 receiver on your team, but he’s usually overrated in fantasy rankings. The former Jet has only surpassed 1,000 yards one of the past four seasons. His reliability index is a miserable .357. (Click here for an explanation of the reliability index.)

Jerry Porter, WR, Jacksonville. He’s been fighting a hamstring injury and has yet to play in a preseason game. That’s a major concern for a receiver trying to learn a new offense and build chemistry with a new quarterback. And oh yeah, Porter has never had a 1,000-yard season.

Donte Stallworth, WR, Cleveland. He was disappointing with Tom Brady as his quarterback, and that’s tough to do. There’s a reason he is playing for his fourth team in four seasons.

All Seahawks receivers. Deion Branch and Bobby Engram are out with injuries, leaving Nate Burleson, who is averaging just 33 receptions over the past three seasons, as the Seahawks’ only experienced receiver to begin the season. But even Burleson is an unknown because his inconsistent play throughout his career makes him a huge question mark after Branch and Engram return. Making matters worse, Matt Hasselbeck seems to have a chronic back injury that may or may not be a factor during the season. Again, let someone else in your league worry about this mess.

Darrell Jackson, WR, Denver. The fact that rookie Eddie Royal appears to have beaten him out of a starting job is an indication that Jackson's best days are behind him.

By Ryan Chatelain

In the eyes of many fantasy footballers, Adrian Peterson should be this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick.

They vividly recall when the Minnesota running back had games of 224 and 296 rushing yards last season and almost single-handedly helped his fantasy owners win those weeks.

They seem to forget, however, about Peterson’s miserable Week 14 (3 yards on 14 carries), and how he managed only 63 rushing yards over the final two weeks when the Vikings were battling for a playoff spot.

Last summer, I thought it would be helpful to gauge a player’s dependability from week to week. In other words, would you rather a running back who will score 25 points one week and just five the next, or one who is a safe bet for at least 15 points every week?

So I created a stat that I call the “reliability index.”

Without boring you too much with the math, the reliability index awards a quarterback, for example, a “win” for every game he scores at least 15 points, a “tie” for 10 to 14 points and a “loss” for nine or fewer. Those numbers are then converted into a number similar to a winning percentage in sports standings.

Trust in L.T. again this year if you have the top pick. (Photo by Getty Images)

QUARTERBACKS
1. Tom Brady (NE)
2. Tony Romo (Dal)
3. Peyton Manning (Ind)
4. Drew Brees (NO)
5. Carson Palmer (Cin)
6. Ben Roethlisberger (Pit)
7. Matt Hasselbeck (Sea)
8. Derek Anderson (Cle)
9. David Garrard (Jax)
10. Jay Cutler (Den)
11. Brett Favre (NYJ)
12. Donovan McNabb (Phi)
13. Matt Schaub (Hou)
14. Marc Bulger (SL)
15. Eli Manning (NYG)
16. Philip Rivers (SD)
17. Jason Campbell (Was)
18. Jon Kitna (Det)
19. Jake Delhomme (Car)
20. Aaron Rodgers (GB)
21. Vince Young (Ten)
22. Matt Leinart (Ariz)
23. Jamarcus Russell (Oak)
24. Tavaris Jackson (Min)
25. Kurt Warner (Ariz)
26. Trent Edwards (Buf)
27. Jeff Garcia (TB)
28. Chad Pennington (Mia)
29. Rex Grossman (Chi)
30. Chris Redman (Atl)

With the 11th pick in this fantasy mock draft, Team #11 selects Clinton Portis, running back, Washington Redskins. (Photo by Getty)

amNewYork fantasy football columnist Ryan Chatelain recently participated in an online mock draft (he’s Team 11) and offered comments on players selected in the first five rounds (and his own players through all 15 rounds)

FIRST ROUND
Team #1 -- LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego
Still the most dependable RB and has monster-game potential.

Team #2 -- Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia
Scored more fantasy points than Adrian Peterson in 2007.

Team #3 -- Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota
Will almost single-handedly beat teams at least a couple of times.

Team #4 – Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis
A strong runner, above-average receiver and goal-line threat.

Team #5 -- Tom Brady, QB, New England
Don’t expect 50 TD passes again, but he’s still first-round worthy.

Team #6 -- Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis
Could gain 2,000 yards — if he ever ends his holdout.

Team #7 -- Randy Moss, WR, New England
Was about 60 fantasy points better than any other WR in ’07.

Team #8 -- Marion Barber, RB, Dallas
TD-scoring stud finally gets his chance to be the starter.

Team #9 -- Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco
Still racked up 1,500 yards in a “bad” season in 2007.

Team #10 -- Terrell Owens, WR, Dallas
A great fantasy receiver, but a questionable first-round pick.

Team #11 -- Clinton Portis, RB, Washington
A safe bet for 1,500 yards and double-digit TDs when healthy.

Team #12 -- Marshawn Lynch, RB, Buffalo
Promising young back should take another step forward.

No one wants to emerge from a fantasy football draft feeling demoralized about his new team, believing he’s already out of contention even before the first Cincinnati Bengal gets arrested this season.

But here’s the good news: Lousy fantasy drafts are always avoidable — if you do your homework.

Here are four tips for preparing like a champ.

1. Pulling rank
Don’t rely on a single Web site or magazine’s player rankings. Use them as a starting point, but then adjust your list, taking into account any stats that catch your eye, player news or your own gut feelings. “This magazine has Ryan Grant as a first-round pick,” you might say. “But I’d like to see more of a proven track record, so I’m going to slide him down below Willis McGahee.”

This practice might seem elementary to many veteran fantasy footballers, but you’d be surprised how many people will pick up their first magazine on the way to a draft party.

As promised, here are my fantasy football player rankings. You’ll notice that I don’t always agree with the status quo, but I’ve tried to explain why I like players more or less than most other fantasy pundits. (FYI: I haven't gotten around to seriously rating defenses and kickers yet.)

Quarterbacks
1. Tom Brady, Patriots
Don’t expect 50 TDs again. 35 maybe. Regardless, you’d be crazy to take any other QB over him.

2. Tony Romo, Cowboys
Romo put up bigger fantasy numbers than Peyton Manning last season, and I’m a little concerned that Manning could get off to a slow start if he misses the preseason.

3. Peyton Manning, Colts
I said I was only a “little concerned” about his injury.

4. Drew Brees, Saints
If he avoids the slow start he had last year, he’ll but right there with the top 3 quarterbacks.

5. Carson Palmer, Bengals
Coming off a down year. But we know what he’s capable of, and he has arguably the best tandem of wide receivers to throw to.

6. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks
Others are down on him some because the Seahawks lack great receivers. But they lacked great receivers last year, too, and Hasselbeck passed for 28 TDs and nearly 4,000 yards.

7. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
I’m not expecting 32 TDs from him again.

8. Derek Anderson, Browns
In the back of my mind, I think his high interception total and low completion percentage could still pave the way for Brady Quinn to step in if the Browns struggle.

9. Donovan McNabb, Eagles
High risk/high reward.

10. Jay Cutler, Broncos
Still improving. Could really use someone to step up as a strong No. 2 receiver.

My weekly fantasy football column returns to amNewYork on Wednesday. This week's topic: Young players who are likely to be selected in the second half of fantasy drafts and who might be ripe for a breakout season. Basically, a very specific group of sleepers.

Here's the column: http://www.amny.com/sports/am-fantasy0730,0,586182.story

Of the six I mentioned, I most like Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall (pictured at right carrying veteran players' equipment this week). If he indeed gets 40 percent of Pittsburgh's workload and goal-line carries, he'll make a nice No. 3 running back on your team or an excellent No. 4 back.

Here are a few other late-round sleepers I like that didn't make the article:

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay -- He knows the offense well, seems very mature, has looked good in limited action and has a good cast of supporting characters around him.

Felix Jones, RB, Dallas -- He's not expected to see as many touches as Julius Jones did, but he should be a significant part of the Cowboys' offense, making him a legit No. 4 running back.

Steve Smith, WR, Giants -- Amani Toomer will soon be 34, Plaxico Burress always seems to be battling some injury, and Smith has plenty of upside.

Keep checking Game Face throughout the season for fantasy "extras" that don't make the paper, including this Friday, when I post my player rankings. Also, I would love to make the column and these blog posts more interactive, so if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail them to me at ryan.chatelain@am-ny.com (or post a comment below).

(Photo by AP)

For my final fantasy football column of the year in Thursday's paper, I've included a 2008 mock draft. I enlisted the help of nine other fantasy fanatics -- colleagues, friends, friends of colleagues -- in the five-round mini-draft.

While the newspaper version includes just names, positions and teams, below are my comments on each and every pick. My team, in case you're wondering, is the Mighty Rynos.

FIRST ROUND
1. Da Bears – Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota
Ryan says: Peterson is certainly deserving of being the top overall pick. But don’t be afraid to take LaDainian Tomlinson here either.

2. Alabama Hawks – LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego
Ryan says: I still like Tomlinson a lot because he has more of a proven track record than Peterson, and I think he’ll put up bigger numbers in 2008 than he has this season.

3. Kalamazoo Killer Whales – Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia
Ryan says: Because of his skills as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield, Westbrook is solid year after year. You just have to get over the fact that he’s never played a full 16-game schedule and seems to constantly be battling some sort of injury.

4. Playoffs?!?! – Tom Brady, QB, New England
Ryan says: : Brady was clearly this season’s fantasy MVP and will shoot up the draft boards next year.

5. Brady’s Baby Mama – Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis
Ryan says: Having two QBs go in the top five is usually unheard of. But because 2007 was a down year for running backs overall, I fully expect more QBs to creep into the first round than ever before.

6. Aussie Ballaz – Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis
Ryan says: Great pick. Addai is talented enough to go as high as third overall.

7. Mighty Rynos – Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis
Ryan says: If he stays healthy in 2008, Jackson could amass 2,000 total yards.

8. Adequate Spiral – Tony Romo, QB, Dallas
Ryan says: Like I said, QBs will be highly sought after early in the draft.

9. Sweet & Sour Ginkgo Nuts – Jamal Lewis, RB, Cleveland
Ryan says: The biggest reach of the first round by far. Surprisingly, Lewis is the fifth best fantasy RB this year. But you have to ask yourself: Do you think he’ll match those numbers again in 2008? I don't think he'll come anywhere close.

10. Working Man – Randy Moss, WR, New England
Ryan says: Randy Moss’ career resurrection is complete, and he should indeed be the first receiver taken in 2008.

Earlier in the season, I was fortunate enough to have both Tom Brady and Brett Favre on my team. Of course, I began shopping Favre around as trade bait, targeting teams with poor quarterbacks. When one team shot down two or three of my offers, I decided it was time to move on and sent its owner a snide little comment: "Good luck winning with Derek Anderson at quarterback."

I was convinced he was a flash in the pan and would have bet my life on the fact that he would have crashed back down to earth and that Brady Quinn would be the Browns' starting quarterback by now.

Boy, was I wrong!

The reason for this little anecdote is because I have named the 2007 All-Surprise Team in my column this week, and no one was a bigger surprise than Derek Anderson.

Check it out, along with my picks for players to bench and start, at this link:
http://www.amny.com/sports/am-fantasy1206,0,7865278.story

AP photo by Matt York