NFC South / West Draft Notes
NFC South
Buccaneers: Don't go overboard on the Caddy love. While he has more spring in his step than he did during last year's abbreviated stint, he's still not back to where he was pre-injury. It goes without saying that he's a major health risk and will be sharing the ball with two backs, both of whom have much better recent track records. … The new rotation leaves Derrick Ward out of the mix for RB2 status on draft day. Consider him more of flex, with higher value in PPR leagues. … Byron Leftwich just won the quarterback job, but the Tampa starter will go undrafted in most leagues. Keep him on your watch list for a possible in-season pickup. … Kellen Winslow, who has at least 875 yards in two of the last three years, is dropping to the seventh or eighth tight end off the board. He's a strong value right now. … Antonio Bryant is the only wide receiver worth drafting, and he's going as a borderline WR2/WR3. That's exactly where we have him.
Falcons The Falcons offense has been the most imposing preseason juggernaut east of Green Bay. If you can't land one of the top four QBs, wait a few rounds and grab Matt Ryan or Matt Schaub. … Michael Turner continues to carry tacklers and break long runs. Draft him with confidence as the best red zone threat in the league. … Roddy White is a darkhorse candidate to lead the league in receiving yards. We like him as much as any receiver outside of the Top-4. … Tony Gonzalez won't repeat last year's stats, but Matt Ryan has made it clear that he can find the future HOFer when he needs him. He's going early in the fifth round, which is a little high for our tastes.
Panthers DeAngelo Williams is picking up steam with Jonathan Stewart's nagging Achilles injury. He has the upside to go Top-5 overall. … Stewart is starting to fall to the seventh and eighth rounds, where he's well worth the dice roll. … Rookie Mike Goodson is better left for Dynasty leagues, even with his head coach's recent high praise. … Steve Smith survived the shoulder scare, and we still like him in the mid-to-late second round. … Muhsin Muhammad is toeing the cliff at age 36. Don't expect another 900-yard season. … Jake Delhomme is a weak QB2.
Saints Pierre Thomas (MCL sprain) is expected to be in the starting lineup for Week 1. We aren't as concerned with a possible committee approach as much as a slow start to the season. He's current going around the mid-third round, which is right where we have him. … Mike Bell is worth a late-round flier as a handcuff. … Reggie Bush is worth the health risk in PPR leagues. Stay away in standard leagues. … Lance Moore is going off the board ahead of Hines Ward and Donald Driver. Don't expect him to repeat last years' 10 TDs and 900 yards with Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey healthy and Robert Meachem emerging. … Colston may be the last of the bonafide WR1s this year.
NFC West
49ers Don't let Glen Coffee's coming out party scare you away from Frank Gore. The offense still revolves around Gore, and we project him to touch the ball more than he did last year. He's a value in the late-first or early-second round, but be sure to grab Coffee as a handcuff. … The best value plays in San Fran are still Josh Morgan and Vernon Davis. Morgan is currently going as the 45th WR while we have him as the 36th. He could be a strong starter for your team all season long. Davis has the most upside of the TE2s, but he's still going in the late rounds of drafts. … Even with the starting job locked up, Shaun Hill is going undrafted in most leagues. He's a weak QB2.
Cardinals We suspect the irrational Tim Hightower love-fest will come to a screeching halt after Friday night's game. While Hightower may start the first game, he has very little upside now that Beanie Wells is healthy. The rookie is a much better talent and is an ideal target as a RB3 with upside. … Kurt Warner will throw for 30 TDs if he's healthy all season, but the time to draft him was last summer. We'd stay away unless he falls to the sixth or seventh round. … Fitz and Boldin are going where they should go. Steve Breaston (PCL sprain) has had one of the most quiet preseason injuries, not slipping at all in recent drafts. Take a look at Percy Harvin as that borderline WR3/WR4 instead.
Rams As a three-down back, offensive centerpiece, and decent bet to lead the team in receptions, we have Steven Jackson as the fourth rated running back. He's currently going as the seventh or eighth in most leagues. … Donnie Avery was over-hyped going into training camp, but he could be a value pick as a low WR3/high WR4 now that he's likely to play in Week 1. … Laurent Robinson has emerged as the No. 2 starter and makes for a nice late-round flier. … Marc Bulger (broken pinkie) is undraftable.
Seahawks This team is teetering on the brink of fantasy graveyard status. The offensive line is in tatters, and Matt Hasselbeck is a red-light injury risk. … Julius Jones will remain the early-down back, but he's nothing more than a low-end RB3. … Edgerrin James is candidate for goal-line duties, but don't count on him to grab hold of the starting job and run with it. He's coughing up dust. … T.J. Houshmandzadeh is going in the late-third round, which is about a round or two early. … No other Seahawks receiver is worth a draft pick. … John Carlson marks the TE1/TE2 dividing line.
NFC South
Buccaneers: Don't go overboard on the Caddy love. While he has more spring in his step than he did during last year's abbreviated stint, he's still not back to where he was pre-injury. It goes without saying that he's a major health risk and will be sharing the ball with two backs, both of whom have much better recent track records. … The new rotation leaves Derrick Ward out of the mix for RB2 status on draft day. Consider him more of flex, with higher value in PPR leagues. … Byron Leftwich just won the quarterback job, but the Tampa starter will go undrafted in most leagues. Keep him on your watch list for a possible in-season pickup. … Kellen Winslow, who has at least 875 yards in two of the last three years, is dropping to the seventh or eighth tight end off the board. He's a strong value right now. … Antonio Bryant is the only wide receiver worth drafting, and he's going as a borderline WR2/WR3. That's exactly where we have him.
Falcons The Falcons offense has been the most imposing preseason juggernaut east of Green Bay. If you can't land one of the top four QBs, wait a few rounds and grab Matt Ryan or Matt Schaub. … Michael Turner continues to carry tacklers and break long runs. Draft him with confidence as the best red zone threat in the league. … Roddy White is a darkhorse candidate to lead the league in receiving yards. We like him as much as any receiver outside of the Top-4. … Tony Gonzalez won't repeat last year's stats, but Matt Ryan has made it clear that he can find the future HOFer when he needs him. He's going early in the fifth round, which is a little high for our tastes.
Panthers DeAngelo Williams is picking up steam with Jonathan Stewart's nagging Achilles injury. He has the upside to go Top-5 overall. … Stewart is starting to fall to the seventh and eighth rounds, where he's well worth the dice roll. … Rookie Mike Goodson is better left for Dynasty leagues, even with his head coach's recent high praise. … Steve Smith survived the shoulder scare, and we still like him in the mid-to-late second round. … Muhsin Muhammad is toeing the cliff at age 36. Don't expect another 900-yard season. … Jake Delhomme is a weak QB2.
Saints Pierre Thomas (MCL sprain) is expected to be in the starting lineup for Week 1. We aren't as concerned with a possible committee approach as much as a slow start to the season. He's current going around the mid-third round, which is right where we have him. … Mike Bell is worth a late-round flier as a handcuff. … Reggie Bush is worth the health risk in PPR leagues. Stay away in standard leagues. … Lance Moore is going off the board ahead of Hines Ward and Donald Driver. Don't expect him to repeat last years' 10 TDs and 900 yards with Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey healthy and Robert Meachem emerging. … Colston may be the last of the bonafide WR1s this year.
NFC West
49ers Don't let Glen Coffee's coming out party scare you away from Frank Gore. The offense still revolves around Gore, and we project him to touch the ball more than he did last year. He's a value in the late-first or early-second round, but be sure to grab Coffee as a handcuff. … The best value plays in San Fran are still Josh Morgan and Vernon Davis. Morgan is currently going as the 45th WR while we have him as the 36th. He could be a strong starter for your team all season long. Davis has the most upside of the TE2s, but he's still going in the late rounds of drafts. … Even with the starting job locked up, Shaun Hill is going undrafted in most leagues. He's a weak QB2.
Cardinals We suspect the irrational Tim Hightower love-fest will come to a screeching halt after Friday night's game. While Hightower may start the first game, he has very little upside now that Beanie Wells is healthy. The rookie is a much better talent and is an ideal target as a RB3 with upside. … Kurt Warner will throw for 30 TDs if he's healthy all season, but the time to draft him was last summer. We'd stay away unless he falls to the sixth or seventh round. … Fitz and Boldin are going where they should go. Steve Breaston (PCL sprain) has had one of the most quiet preseason injuries, not slipping at all in recent drafts. Take a look at Percy Harvin as that borderline WR3/WR4 instead.
Rams As a three-down back, offensive centerpiece, and decent bet to lead the team in receptions, we have Steven Jackson as the fourth rated running back. He's currently going as the seventh or eighth in most leagues. … Donnie Avery was over-hyped going into training camp, but he could be a value pick as a low WR3/high WR4 now that he's likely to play in Week 1. … Laurent Robinson has emerged as the No. 2 starter and makes for a nice late-round flier. … Marc Bulger (broken pinkie) is undraftable.
Seahawks This team is teetering on the brink of fantasy graveyard status. The offensive line is in tatters, and Matt Hasselbeck is a red-light injury risk. … Julius Jones will remain the early-down back, but he's nothing more than a low-end RB3. … Edgerrin James is candidate for goal-line duties, but don't count on him to grab hold of the starting job and run with it. He's coughing up dust. … T.J. Houshmandzadeh is going in the late-third round, which is about a round or two early. … No other Seahawks receiver is worth a draft pick. … John Carlson marks the TE1/TE2 dividing line.
