FallingQuarterbacks1.
Matt Cassel - With one training camp and preseason under his belt in K.C., Cassel has done nothing to allay concerns that he was a product of the Patriots system and wide receiver talent. The Chiefs are one of the most talent-starved teams in the league, and Cassel will be running for his life all season behind an over-matched offensive line.
2.
Kyle Orton - Orton is nobody's idea of a franchise quarterback. His contract is up after the season, which means he has to be a strong fantasy asset in 2009 in order to hold value. With an underwhelming preseason, a nasty finger injury that threatens his early-season accuracy, and a crazy person for a No. 1 receiver, Orton's present value has been beaten to a pulp.
3.
Kevin Kolb - Undrafted in
a recent startup league with 25-deep rosters, it's hard to picture any team giving Kolb a starting opportunity in the near future. Unlike a
Matt Schaub who flashed in short doses early in his career, Kolb has yet to show anything that would make a team want to deal for him.
4.
Pat White - The second-rounder won't even be ready for Wild Cat duty as a rookie. White is still uncomfortable anywhere but in the shotgun, and the Dolphins quarterback of the future is
Chad Henne. It's hard to envision even long-term value at this point.
Running Backs1.
Derrick Ward - Ward had the potential to be a high-end RB2 this season behind a quality offensive line in a run-oriented offense. Instead he's a 29-year-old back in a 2-2-1 rotation. It's now or never for aging backs, and Ward's "now" just deflated.
2.
Jonathan Stewart - With a second straight offseason/preseason of foot injuries – this year even more disconcerting than last – Stewart hasn't shown the much-needed NFL ability to withstand nagging setbacks. Already tough to rank considering his high-end talent mired in a backfield timeshare, Stewart's future is murkier than ever. When will he graduate to weekly asset?
3.
Brian Westbrook - This one is quite simple: Westbrook is one bad hit or one wrong cut away from ending his career. Doubtlessly, he can still be a weekly asset when healthy, but the risk is no longer worth the reward when weighed against younger backs.
4.
Clinton Portis - We know that his explosion is gone, evidenced by the disappearance of his breakaway speed. Portis is entering the plodding, beast of burden stage of his career. Worse, he's doing so behind a tattered offensive line with
Ladell Betts set to take over third-down duties in an effort to keep the starter fresh. Carry totals of 325+ in four of the past five seasons are a flashing neon-red warning: stay away.
4.
Reggie Bush - Similar to
Brian Westbrook in that concerns about his knees trump whatever upside he may possess. With
Pierre Thomas emerging and
Mike Bell around for insurance, Bush is going to have to rely even more on his receptions for fantasy value.
Wide Receivers1.
Brandon Marshall - What a mess this guy is. When he's not in handcuffs, he's sabotaging Broncos practice, malingering, and trashing the organization. A suspension waiting to happen, Marshall combines the worst parts of
Terrell Owens and
Plaxico Burress. No thanks.
2.
Michael Crabtree - At this point, his rookie season is a wash. We've missed out on a chance to evaluate his talent throughout training camp and against NFL competition in preseason action, so our knowledge gap remains pretty wide. I wouldn't have any problem placing the diva/knucklehead tag on him at this point either.
3.
Miles Austin - The Cowboys were dying for Austin to step up and take the No. 2 receiver job, and he couldn't beat out
Patrick Crayton. This may have been the best opportunity he'll ever receive.
4.
Brian Robiskie - Shame on you if you drafted Robiskie over Harvin or any of the other first-round receivers based simply on a better-than-expected forty time and minicamp hype. With zero difference-making potential and a low ceiling, he's exactly what you don't want in a rookie wide receiver. Robiskie is now sitting at fifth receiver on the Browns depth chart, behind less-hyped second-rounder
Mohamed Massaquoi.
5.
Kevin Curtis - Curtis is the kind of fringe starter who needs to produce in the present to have Dynasty value. Local papers continue to suggest that his starting job is up in the air due to his inability to shake a sports hernia and knee issues. He can't be counted on for 2009, in which case he's practically valueless.
Tight Ends1.
Ben Watson – Last year's starter has fallen behind
Chris Baker, perhaps as far as fourth on the depth chart. Watson is firmly in Bill Belichick's doghouse and may be off the roster before he gets a chance to redeem himself.
2.
Heath Miller - Miller is falling not so much through any fault of his own. His low yearly ceiling simply means that young, talented tight ends such as Finley, Bennett, and
Jared Cook are worth rostering ahead of him.
For the most up-to-date player rankings, profiles, projections, cheatsheets, and much, much more that will allow you to dominate your fantasy football league, check out the 2009 Rotoworld Football Draft Guide.
It's been six weeks since we've addressed the fluctuating values of Dynasty league
Quarterbacks,
Running backs,
Wide receivers, and
Tight ends. With training camp and preseason action giving away to real football, it's time to highlight the winners and losers of the past month.
Rising Quarterbacks 1.
Matthew Stafford - You have to love his aggressiveness in going down the field, which matches up perfectly with
Calvin Johnson's strengths. Throw in a well-rounded back in
Kevin Smith and the best tight end in the '09 draft, and the Lions offense will be generating league-wide buzz much sooner than anticipated.
2.
Aaron Rodgers - The preseason MVP led the offense to a score on every drive through the first three preseason games. Loaded with offensive weapons, Rodgers has graduated to Tier One with the big boys.
Editor's Note: To see where Aaron Rodgers is ranked in our latest projections, check out the 2009 Rotoworld Football Draft Guide.3.
Matt Ryan - Another player comfortably making the leap to Tier One, Ryan continues to draw comparisons to
Peyton Manning and
Tom Brady. His future value was already off the charts, and preseason indications suggest the Falcons offense is reaching juggernaut territory. The defense needs major work, which means we could be in line for a couple of 45-42 fantasy bonanzas against the Saints.
4.
Matt Leinart - Leinart's offseason rebirth has carried over to the preseason, topped off by last Friday's 360-yard, 3-TD effort in one half. He's met coach Ken Whisenhunt's challenges head on, and he's a better quarterback for it. Looking at NFL history, you can count the number of successful 38-year-old quarterback seasons on one hand. When
Kurt Warner crumbles, Leinart will be there to pick up the pieces in a championship caliber offense with the best collection of receivers in the league.
5.
Michael Vick - He has a team and is ready for NFL action, which is more than many expected as recently as a month ago. Vick's contract is setup where he's almost certainly going to be playing elsewhere in 2010, ostensibly as a starting quarterback. His upside makes him more valuable than most of the starters who don't enjoy "franchise" status.
Honorable Mention: Mark Sanchez,
Nate Davis Running Backs1.
DeAngelo Williams - Even after Williams' No. 1 fantasy finish in 2008, it was fair to question the future Carolina backfield pecking order. It had been widely assumed that No. 12 overall pick Jonathan Stewart would nudge Williams out of the way in a year or two and take over as the lead back. That's no longer the case given Stewart's injury concerns. Williams is primed for an increase in touches, and his owners simply aren't as concerned with Stewart as they were six months ago.
2.
Kevin Smith - Smith is starting to look more and more like the offensive centerpiece in Detroit. A young back with a good possibility of 300 carries and 50 catches for the foreseeable future is quite an asset.
3.
Ray Rice - Not only is Rice the new No. 1 back in Baltimore, he's also a burgeoning PPR stud and isn't guaranteed to be pulled inside the red zone. By next year, with
Willis McGahee likely out of the picture, Rice could be a Top-12 back.
4.
Leon Washington - With backs of
Leon Washington's profile, an increase of 5-6 offensive touches per week are the difference between bye-week fill-in and legit RB2. While Washington doesn't have the body type or the leg drive to sustain a rushing attack with 20 carries per game, he could thrive with the extra touches in space. Rex Ryan has made it clear that Washington will get those touches starting this season.
5.
Glen Coffee / James Davis - Coffee appears to be the better talent while Davis has a much clearer path to regular carries. Coffee's physical, slashing style has produced an NFL high 230 rushing yards through three games. If
Frank Gore owners don't already have him, they need to go get him. Davis, on the other hand, has shown a nice burst with surprising long speed, which only highlights the plodding style of an aging
Jamal Lewis. Both Coffee and Davis are knocking on the door to
LeSean McCoy/
Shonn Greene territory among rookie backs.
Honorable Mention: Cadillac Williams
Wide Receivers1.
Eddie Royal - Since early last season, it's been clear that Royal is a better use of a roster spot as a WR2 than
Brandon Marshall is as a WR1. Now it's getting to the point where Royal may be taking over as the Broncos go-to receiver, and 110 catches aren't out of the question. Every time Marshall attempts to channel a more evil version of "
Leon," Royal's value ticks up another notch.
2.
Percy Harvin - See
here for testimonial. Harvin's upside is Tier One, and he's going to be heavily involved in the offense as the favorite for Rookie of the Year honors. Get on board.
3.
Chad Ochocinco - The All-Pro talent remains, and Ocho's head is on relatively straight this season. As long as
Carson Palmer stays upright – and the Bengals don't tailspin in October – Ocho should produce borderline WR1 numbers for the next couple of seasons.
4.
Chris Henry - Easily one of the most talented wide receivers in the league and a lethal red zone weapon, Henry has scored in all four Bengals preseason games. If all of the talk of an offseason epiphany holds true, Henry has Top-25 potential.
5.
DeSean Jackson - While Jackson exploded onto the scene as a rookie, there were reasons for concern about his long-term value down the stretch. Four of his five best fantasy games came while
Kevin Curtis was sidelined, and he managed just two receiving touchdowns all season. Training camp reports, though, have been unanimous in pointing out that the camp MVP is even more explosive this season. He's a legit WR2.
Tight Ends1.
Jermichael Finley - Since the start of last season, Finley has gone from immature knucklehead to talented backup pushing
Donald Lee to a prime weapon in the Packers lethal passing attack. The Pack haven't come out and admitted it, but Finley has bypassed Lee in this offense. He's on the brink of a breakout season.
2.
Martellus Bennett - NFL teams often keep new offensive sets under wraps in preseason action. There's plenty of reason to believe the Cowboys have done just that with their two-tight end set so far. Everyone from the owner to the head coach to the No. 1 tight end has made it clear that the team has "big plans" for Marty B this season. The freakishly talented 22-year-old has a ceiling well worth carrying as a TE2 until he lands a starting job.
FallingQuarterbacks1.
Matt Cassel - With one training camp and preseason under his belt in K.C., Cassel has done nothing to allay concerns that he was a product of the Patriots system and wide receiver talent. The Chiefs are one of the most talent-starved teams in the league, and Cassel will be running for his life all season behind an over-matched offensive line.
2.
Kyle Orton - Orton is nobody's idea of a franchise quarterback. His contract is up after the season, which means he has to be a strong fantasy asset in 2009 in order to hold value. With an underwhelming preseason, a nasty finger injury that threatens his early-season accuracy, and a crazy person for a No. 1 receiver, Orton's present value has been beaten to a pulp.
3.
Kevin Kolb - Undrafted in
a recent startup league with 25-deep rosters, it's hard to picture any team giving Kolb a starting opportunity in the near future. Unlike a
Matt Schaub who flashed in short doses early in his career, Kolb has yet to show anything that would make a team want to deal for him.
4.
Pat White - The second-rounder won't even be ready for Wild Cat duty as a rookie. White is still uncomfortable anywhere but in the shotgun, and the Dolphins quarterback of the future is
Chad Henne. It's hard to envision even long-term value at this point.
Running Backs1.
Derrick Ward - Ward had the potential to be a high-end RB2 this season behind a quality offensive line in a run-oriented offense. Instead he's a 29-year-old back in a 2-2-1 rotation. It's now or never for aging backs, and Ward's "now" just deflated.
2.
Jonathan Stewart - With a second straight offseason/preseason of foot injuries – this year even more disconcerting than last – Stewart hasn't shown the much-needed NFL ability to withstand nagging setbacks. Already tough to rank considering his high-end talent mired in a backfield timeshare, Stewart's future is murkier than ever. When will he graduate to weekly asset?
3.
Brian Westbrook - This one is quite simple: Westbrook is one bad hit or one wrong cut away from ending his career. Doubtlessly, he can still be a weekly asset when healthy, but the risk is no longer worth the reward when weighed against younger backs.
4.
Clinton Portis - We know that his explosion is gone, evidenced by the disappearance of his breakaway speed. Portis is entering the plodding, beast of burden stage of his career. Worse, he's doing so behind a tattered offensive line with
Ladell Betts set to take over third-down duties in an effort to keep the starter fresh. Carry totals of 325+ in four of the past five seasons are a flashing neon-red warning: stay away.
4.
Reggie Bush - Similar to
Brian Westbrook in that concerns about his knees trump whatever upside he may possess. With
Pierre Thomas emerging and
Mike Bell around for insurance, Bush is going to have to rely even more on his receptions for fantasy value.
Wide Receivers1.
Brandon Marshall - What a mess this guy is. When he's not in handcuffs, he's sabotaging Broncos practice, malingering, and trashing the organization. A suspension waiting to happen, Marshall combines the worst parts of
Terrell Owens and
Plaxico Burress. No thanks.
2.
Michael Crabtree - At this point, his rookie season is a wash. We've missed out on a chance to evaluate his talent throughout training camp and against NFL competition in preseason action, so our knowledge gap remains pretty wide. I wouldn't have any problem placing the diva/knucklehead tag on him at this point either.
3.
Miles Austin - The Cowboys were dying for Austin to step up and take the No. 2 receiver job, and he couldn't beat out
Patrick Crayton. This may have been the best opportunity he'll ever receive.
4.
Brian Robiskie - Shame on you if you drafted Robiskie over Harvin or any of the other first-round receivers based simply on a better-than-expected forty time and minicamp hype. With zero difference-making potential and a low ceiling, he's exactly what you don't want in a rookie wide receiver. Robiskie is now sitting at fifth receiver on the Browns depth chart, behind less-hyped second-rounder
Mohamed Massaquoi.
5.
Kevin Curtis - Curtis is the kind of fringe starter who needs to produce in the present to have Dynasty value. Local papers continue to suggest that his starting job is up in the air due to his inability to shake a sports hernia and knee issues. He can't be counted on for 2009, in which case he's practically valueless.
Tight Ends1.
Ben Watson – Last year's starter has fallen behind
Chris Baker, perhaps as far as fourth on the depth chart. Watson is firmly in Bill Belichick's doghouse and may be off the roster before he gets a chance to redeem himself.
2.
Heath Miller - Miller is falling not so much through any fault of his own. His low yearly ceiling simply means that young, talented tight ends such as Finley, Bennett, and
Jared Cook are worth rostering ahead of him.
For the most up-to-date player rankings, profiles, projections, cheatsheets, and much, much more that will allow you to dominate your fantasy football league, check out the 2009 Rotoworld Football Draft Guide.