Musesboy
Footballguy
Every year, things happen to change the situations of many players, and as a result, their fantasy value. Some get injured and that can be hard to predict unless they have a chronic condition or a history of picking up injuries. But other things are easier to predict.
As the summer training camps progress, and the first few games of the season are played, what situations are you focusing on in 2006?
Here are the immediate questions that I can think of:
Arizona Cardinals
1. What is expected of Edgerrin James this season? Can he turn around the worst rushing attack from 2005? What would an improved running game mean for the team? While the offense should be able to convert more third downs and stay on the field longer, will it be enough to bring balance to the offense?
2. With a probable improvement in the running game, can we expect Fitzgerald and Boldin to produce as well as last year? If the balance switches and there are less catches to go around, can we expect more TDs because the offense is more likely to keep possession?
3. How will Pope factor in to the passing game?
4. Can Kurt Warner stay healthy? Will Edge help to protect him with his blocking ability? If Warner does go down, will Leinart be ready to play in his rookie season and how would it affect the values of the key offensive players?
Atlanta Falcons
1. Will Michael Vick finally "get it" and become a 3000 yard passer?
2. Are we to expect the same as usual from Dunn/Duckett, or will Norwood work his way into the picture?
3. Will any receiver be targeted often enough to make them a viable fantasy starter, and if so, who will be the most valuable?
Baltimore Ravens
1. Will Kyle Boller be starting, or will the team trade for Steve McNair or somebody else?
2. Will Jamal Lewis become a reliable starter again, or can Mike Anderson press him for playing time?
3. Todd Heap did well last year despite being hampered by his lingering injury. With those concerns over, how high could he rank this season?
4. Derrick Mason changed teams last year and still managed 86/1073 despite weak quarterback play. He only scored 3 TDs which limited his final ranking. Will that improve this year with more experience in the system and a possible upgrade at QB?
5. How involved will Mark Clayton be after he finished strongly in the final few weeks last year?
Buffalo Bills
1. Can Losman win the starting job? If he does, how much improvement can we expect in his second year as starter? Will it be as significant as the improvement Eli Manning made after he put up similar numbers in his first year as a starter? If Losman struggles, will he still keep the job this year?
2. Lee Evans will be the number one receiver. What can we expect? Will he be able to adjust to double teams and facing the leading CB from the opposition?
3. Can Everett or Royal be effective enough to be a fantasy starter?
4. Will the new coaching regime place more emphasis on the power running game, and will we see Willis McGahee staying on the field in third down situations?
5. Who will start opposite Evans?
6. Will the offensive line be improved after adding the free agents and rookies that they did?
Carolina Panthers
1. What will happen at RB with Foster healthy and Williams drafted? Will either get goal line carries?
2. What will happen to Steve Smith's numbers with Keyshawn Johnson signed? It is unlikely he will get near the 40% of targets that he saw last year. Will Johnson draw coverage and help compensate?
3. Will Johnson be involved enough to be a viable fantasy starter?
Chicago Bears
1. Will Grossman hold off Griese and finally stay healthy?
2. Will the extra depth at QB change the balance of the offense? If it does, how valuable will Muhsin Muhammad be?
3. Who will start opposite Muhammad?
4. Can Thomas Jones hold off Benson for another year? If not, will we see Benson take over or RBBC?
Cincinnati Bengals
1. Will Carson Palmer be ready for the opening game?
2. What would happen to the offense with Wright or Krenzel under center?
3. Will Houshmandzadeh continue to be valuable as teams smother Chad Johnson in coverage?
4. Can Chris Perry increase his role, or will Rudi Johnson continue to see most of the carries?
Cleveland Browns
1. How effective will Frye be as the full time starter?
2. Will Braylon Edwards be ready in time for the opener? What happens if he isn't?
3. Does Jurevicius have enough value to become a viable fantasy starter?
4. Will we finally see what Kellen Winslow can do?
5. Is Droughns entrenched as the starter and can he improve his TD numbers?
Dallas Cowboys
1. How many games will Terrell Owens play, and what can we expect if he plays 16 games?
2. Is Bledsoe likely to increase his production with a weapon like Owens added?
3. Is Terry Glenn more or less valuable in single coverage as the number two?
4. How involved will Witten be now that the OL is healthy, and what will the addition of Fasano mean to Witten's fantasy production?
5. Will Parcells lean on the running game as much with Owens added, or will the balance change?
6. Can Jones stay healthy and hold off Barber or will we see some form of RBBC?
Denver Broncos
1. What do we expect from Javon Walker? Will he be more productive than Rod Smith?
2. Will Lelie stay with the team? Would David Terrell replace him if he left?
3. Will Shanahan continue to employ a RBBC? What will the distribution of carries be between Dayne, Bell and Cobbs?
4. Will the main TE be productive, and who will it be?
5. If Plummer goes down, will we see Cutler?
6. Will the leading back be a candidate for the top 10, or will the emphasis switch to the passing game with Walker added?
Detroit Lions
1. What will Martz do at OC and will it be enough to elevate some of the players to fantasy starters?
2. What should we expect from Roy Williams?
3. Who will start opposite Williams?
4. Will Kitna or McCown win the starting QB battle, and will either do better than Joey Harrington did in the past?
5. If Kevin Jones stays healthy, how high might he finish in the fantasy standings? Will Bryson hurt him on third down? Where does Calhoun fit in?
6. Can Charles Rogers get his head straight and finally show something? Will he even stay with the team?
Green Bay Packers
1. Favre is back and Walker is gone. What does that mean for Driver? Could he be a top 10 prospect?
2. Green, Davenport and Gado all return. Will all three be used or is this still Green's job to lose?
3. With Ferguson's durability issues, is there room for Jennings to see time as a rookie? If not, can Gardner or Boerigter step up?
4. Will the offensive line be improved this year?
5. Is Aaron Rodgers ready if Favre goes down. Oh right
Houston Texans
1. They passed on Bush and Davis kept his starting job. How well will he do this year?
2. With Moulds added opposite Andre Johnson, how will the passing game change?
3. Does Jeb Putzier have any value?
4. While not addressing the OL situation as early in the draft as some hoped, they did add three rookies. Will it be enough to keep Carr from getting killed?
Indianapolis Colts
1. With Edge gone, will we see Manning have a big season or will the balance stay the same? How good will the protection be?
2. What happens in the running game? Will Rhodes carry the load, will Addai get the bulk, or will it be a true RBBC?
3. Can Marvin Harrison have another good year or is this the year he starts to slow down?
4. Can Dallas Clark get nearer the production levels we expected when Pollard departed last year? Is there room for a guy like Bryan Fletcher in this offense?
5. Stokley had a big year in 2004. Can we expect a return to those levels if the emphasis switches to the passing game with Edge gone?
6. What will Adam Vinatieri do now that he is on a potent offense and kicking in a dome?
Jacksonville Jaguars
1. With Jimmy Smith retiring, what happens to the pecking order among the WRs? Will they stick with what they have or look to bring someone else in? How valuable will the number one receiver be?
2. Marcedes Lewis was added in the draft. What can we expect in his rookie year?
3. Fred Taylor was persuaded to return by Jimmy Smith. Will he remain with the team now that Smith has retired? What role will Jones and Drew have?
4. Can Leftwich stay healthy for the whole year?
Kansas City Chiefs
1. With a new coach and a change at OC, will the offense look anything like it has in recent years?
2. Can Larry Johnson play at such a high level if he has to carry all of the load for 16 games?
3. Will Priest Holmes come back? If he does, how valuable would he be if Johnson were to get hurt?
4. Can Tony Gonzalez put up better TD numbers or will Herm Edwards ask him to block all year for Larry Johnson?
5. Will Green and Kennison be as valuable under the new regime?
Miami Dolphins
1. With Ricky Williams suspended, what can we expect from Ronnie Brown now that he will carry the full load?
2. Will Culpepper be ready for week one, or at all? Who starts if he isn't ready?
3. What happens to Chambers and the passing game if Culpepper is ready?
4. What will Mularkey do as OC? Can we expect trick plays in goal line situations and a third down back, or will Ronnie Brown be used to pound it in?
Minnesota Vikings
1. Can Brad Johnson be effective again?
2. What can we expect from Koren Robinson?
3. Will Williamson emerge as the other starting WR?
4. How will Chester Taylor be used? Will there be some form of RBBC or with Culpepper and Moe Williams gone, might Taylor see most of the carries. What role will Moore and Fason have?
New England Patriots
1. Will Brady carry the team on his back and enjoy another top three finish, or will the running game and defense be effective enough to return Brady to the 6-10 range?
2. Can Dillon's fitness regime allow him to be effective even though he will be 32 in October?
3. What role will Maroney have? Does Dillon keep him off the field or will it be a RBBC? What value would Maroney have if Dillon were to get hurt?
4. With Givens leaving, who will be the number two receiver? Does Branch's value increase or stay the same now that he is the only experienced receiver in the system?
5. What happens at TE? Watson and Graham have ability and the Patriots drafted two more.
New Orleans Saints
1. Will Drew Brees be ready, and how effective will he be?
2. Can Joe Horn put his injuries behind him and have a good year?
3. Will Stallworth remain with the team? If he does, will he see more looks than Horn?
4. Will Hilton retain his starting job with Conwell back and does he have top 12 value?
5. Can Deuce McAllister do well just a year after suffering an ACL injury?
6. How does Reggie Bush factor in to the equation? If McAllister struggles, what upside does Bush have should he claim the starting job early?
7. How will the Saints react to the new coach, and will their play be lifted by being able to play at home after last year?
New York Giants
1. Will Eli Manning continue develop and can he improve his road performances?
2. Will Barber start to slow down?
3. What will Burress do this year, especially if Manning is more consistent?
4. Will Jeremy Shockey continue to be as involved in the passing game?
5. Will Brandon Jacobs retain his goal line vulture role?
New York Jets
1. Can Curtis Martin have an effective season as the oldest starting RB in the league? Will Houston or Blaylock impact his numbers?
2. What effect will the coaching changes have?
3. Can Pennington return healthy, or will Patrick Ramsey get a chance?
4. What will Coles and McCareins do if the QB situation pans out this year?
Oakland Raiders
1. Will Aaron Brooks improve the passing game or will it regress further?
2. Can Randy Moss stay healthy and return to top five status?
3. What is in store for LaMont Jordan this year? Can he improve his rushing yards? Will his goal line carries decrease with a healthy Moss such a big target in the end zone? Does Zack Crockett still have a chance at goal line carries?
4. Will Curry have any value as the third receiver?
Philadelphia Eagles
1. What can McNabb do now that Owens has departed?
2. How will the WR corps shake out? If Reggie Brown wins the main starting role, what can we expect?
3. Will L.J. Smith get even more looks with the WR Corps weakened?
4. Will Westbrook play the same role, or can Moats or Buckhalter eat into his carries? Who will get goal line carries?
Pittsburgh Steelers
1. Will Roethlisberger see an increased role this year now that he has fully absorbed the system and gained the confidence of the coaching staff? Could the balance shift a little more towards the passing game as a result?
2. Who will start opposite Ward, and will that WR2 have any fantasy value?
3. What can be expected of Heath Miller now that he has a year of experience? Will the departure of Bettis see Miller targeted more often in the end zone?
4. Does Cedric Humes have any value as a possible goal line vulture or will the team use Staley or Parker?
5. What is Parker's value now that the draft has passed and the Steelers haven't secured another back in free agency? Can he ever become a three down back?
San Diego Chargers
1. Can Rivers replace Brees? How will the offense be affected?
2. Will Tomlinson avoid the niggling injuries and do even better this year, and will the running game suffer with the change at QB?
3. Will McCardell continue to be effective?
4. Who will start opposite McCardell? Parker finished well last year, but Woods was added and Jackson is developing.
5. Is Gates still the top TE with the question marks at QB? Can we expect him to match the production of last year, or even surpass it as he won't be suspended in week one?
San Francisco 49ers
1. How will Alex Smith develop and will it provide a viable passing game? Is there any chance of Dilfer taking over for a while?
2. Can Bryant adjust as the leading receiver and does he have any fantasy value?
3. Will Battle hold on to the WR2 role? If not, who will step up?
4. What will happen at TE with Eric Johnson healthy and Vernon Davis drafted 6th overall? If Davis wins the job, is he a top 10 TE?
5. Will Gore have any value or will Barlow share carries or beat him out?
Seattle Seahawks
1. Will Shaun Alexander still be a top three back now that he has lost Hutchinson from the line and been given a lucrative contract?
2. Will Darrell Jackson be injury free by the start of the season?
3. Who will start opposite Jackson, and what role will Burleson have?
St. Louis Rams
1. How will the new coaching regime and the loss of Martz impact the offensive balance?
2. Can Bulger stay healthy if the team can protect him better as they plan to? What is his upside if he plays 16 games? Is Frerotte worth drafting in the last round if you take Bulger?
3. The Rams want to get Jackson 20+ touches a game and Faulk 10-12. What value does Jackson have if he only gets twice as many touches as Faulk?
4. Linehan wants to involve the TE more. Will Klopfenstein or Byrd emerge as a viable fantasy starter?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1. What is Simms capable of as the full time starter?
2. Can Carnell Williams stay healthy and should we expect improvement? Will he be used in third down situations?
3. Will Alstott vulture many TDs?
4. Will Galloway have another great season or will Clayton eat into his production? Can both be viable fantasy starters?
5. How much improvement does Alex Smith have in him?
Tennessee Titans
1. Will Steve McNair remain with the team.
2. If McNair leaves, does Volek get the job for a year or will Vince Young get a chance in his rookie year?
3. With Givens added, who is the top receiver on the team?
4. If Volek starts, will he latch on to Drew Bennett as in the past?
5. Can LenDale White take the starting job away from Chris Brown?
6. Will Travis Henry be released and end up with another team?
7. Which TE will have the most production, and can we expect the TE production as a whole to drop with a healthier WR corps?
Washington Redskins
1. How will OC Al Saunders impact the offensive balance of the team?
2. Does Portis have a chance to increase his production with Saunders coming from a team that featured Holmes and then Johnson so successfully?
3. Will Brunell retain the starting job all year? Might his production increase to Trent Green levels with the new scheme and better weapons?
4. With the additions of Randle El and Brandon Lloyd, will Santana Moss improve his numbers as the defense tries to cover everybody, or will his targets fall and his production decline?
5. Is there still room for Chris Cooley to get enough looks to be a top five TE?
What other questions are you posing, and what are your thoughts on the points I raised?
As the summer training camps progress, and the first few games of the season are played, what situations are you focusing on in 2006?
Here are the immediate questions that I can think of:
Arizona Cardinals
1. What is expected of Edgerrin James this season? Can he turn around the worst rushing attack from 2005? What would an improved running game mean for the team? While the offense should be able to convert more third downs and stay on the field longer, will it be enough to bring balance to the offense?
2. With a probable improvement in the running game, can we expect Fitzgerald and Boldin to produce as well as last year? If the balance switches and there are less catches to go around, can we expect more TDs because the offense is more likely to keep possession?
3. How will Pope factor in to the passing game?
4. Can Kurt Warner stay healthy? Will Edge help to protect him with his blocking ability? If Warner does go down, will Leinart be ready to play in his rookie season and how would it affect the values of the key offensive players?
Atlanta Falcons
1. Will Michael Vick finally "get it" and become a 3000 yard passer?
2. Are we to expect the same as usual from Dunn/Duckett, or will Norwood work his way into the picture?
3. Will any receiver be targeted often enough to make them a viable fantasy starter, and if so, who will be the most valuable?
Baltimore Ravens
1. Will Kyle Boller be starting, or will the team trade for Steve McNair or somebody else?
2. Will Jamal Lewis become a reliable starter again, or can Mike Anderson press him for playing time?
3. Todd Heap did well last year despite being hampered by his lingering injury. With those concerns over, how high could he rank this season?
4. Derrick Mason changed teams last year and still managed 86/1073 despite weak quarterback play. He only scored 3 TDs which limited his final ranking. Will that improve this year with more experience in the system and a possible upgrade at QB?
5. How involved will Mark Clayton be after he finished strongly in the final few weeks last year?
Buffalo Bills
1. Can Losman win the starting job? If he does, how much improvement can we expect in his second year as starter? Will it be as significant as the improvement Eli Manning made after he put up similar numbers in his first year as a starter? If Losman struggles, will he still keep the job this year?
2. Lee Evans will be the number one receiver. What can we expect? Will he be able to adjust to double teams and facing the leading CB from the opposition?
3. Can Everett or Royal be effective enough to be a fantasy starter?
4. Will the new coaching regime place more emphasis on the power running game, and will we see Willis McGahee staying on the field in third down situations?
5. Who will start opposite Evans?
6. Will the offensive line be improved after adding the free agents and rookies that they did?
Carolina Panthers
1. What will happen at RB with Foster healthy and Williams drafted? Will either get goal line carries?
2. What will happen to Steve Smith's numbers with Keyshawn Johnson signed? It is unlikely he will get near the 40% of targets that he saw last year. Will Johnson draw coverage and help compensate?
3. Will Johnson be involved enough to be a viable fantasy starter?
Chicago Bears
1. Will Grossman hold off Griese and finally stay healthy?
2. Will the extra depth at QB change the balance of the offense? If it does, how valuable will Muhsin Muhammad be?
3. Who will start opposite Muhammad?
4. Can Thomas Jones hold off Benson for another year? If not, will we see Benson take over or RBBC?
Cincinnati Bengals
1. Will Carson Palmer be ready for the opening game?
2. What would happen to the offense with Wright or Krenzel under center?
3. Will Houshmandzadeh continue to be valuable as teams smother Chad Johnson in coverage?
4. Can Chris Perry increase his role, or will Rudi Johnson continue to see most of the carries?
Cleveland Browns
1. How effective will Frye be as the full time starter?
2. Will Braylon Edwards be ready in time for the opener? What happens if he isn't?
3. Does Jurevicius have enough value to become a viable fantasy starter?
4. Will we finally see what Kellen Winslow can do?
5. Is Droughns entrenched as the starter and can he improve his TD numbers?
Dallas Cowboys
1. How many games will Terrell Owens play, and what can we expect if he plays 16 games?
2. Is Bledsoe likely to increase his production with a weapon like Owens added?
3. Is Terry Glenn more or less valuable in single coverage as the number two?
4. How involved will Witten be now that the OL is healthy, and what will the addition of Fasano mean to Witten's fantasy production?
5. Will Parcells lean on the running game as much with Owens added, or will the balance change?
6. Can Jones stay healthy and hold off Barber or will we see some form of RBBC?
Denver Broncos
1. What do we expect from Javon Walker? Will he be more productive than Rod Smith?
2. Will Lelie stay with the team? Would David Terrell replace him if he left?
3. Will Shanahan continue to employ a RBBC? What will the distribution of carries be between Dayne, Bell and Cobbs?
4. Will the main TE be productive, and who will it be?
5. If Plummer goes down, will we see Cutler?
6. Will the leading back be a candidate for the top 10, or will the emphasis switch to the passing game with Walker added?
Detroit Lions
1. What will Martz do at OC and will it be enough to elevate some of the players to fantasy starters?
2. What should we expect from Roy Williams?
3. Who will start opposite Williams?
4. Will Kitna or McCown win the starting QB battle, and will either do better than Joey Harrington did in the past?
5. If Kevin Jones stays healthy, how high might he finish in the fantasy standings? Will Bryson hurt him on third down? Where does Calhoun fit in?
6. Can Charles Rogers get his head straight and finally show something? Will he even stay with the team?
Green Bay Packers
1. Favre is back and Walker is gone. What does that mean for Driver? Could he be a top 10 prospect?
2. Green, Davenport and Gado all return. Will all three be used or is this still Green's job to lose?
3. With Ferguson's durability issues, is there room for Jennings to see time as a rookie? If not, can Gardner or Boerigter step up?
4. Will the offensive line be improved this year?
5. Is Aaron Rodgers ready if Favre goes down. Oh right
Houston Texans
1. They passed on Bush and Davis kept his starting job. How well will he do this year?
2. With Moulds added opposite Andre Johnson, how will the passing game change?
3. Does Jeb Putzier have any value?
4. While not addressing the OL situation as early in the draft as some hoped, they did add three rookies. Will it be enough to keep Carr from getting killed?
Indianapolis Colts
1. With Edge gone, will we see Manning have a big season or will the balance stay the same? How good will the protection be?
2. What happens in the running game? Will Rhodes carry the load, will Addai get the bulk, or will it be a true RBBC?
3. Can Marvin Harrison have another good year or is this the year he starts to slow down?
4. Can Dallas Clark get nearer the production levels we expected when Pollard departed last year? Is there room for a guy like Bryan Fletcher in this offense?
5. Stokley had a big year in 2004. Can we expect a return to those levels if the emphasis switches to the passing game with Edge gone?
6. What will Adam Vinatieri do now that he is on a potent offense and kicking in a dome?
Jacksonville Jaguars
1. With Jimmy Smith retiring, what happens to the pecking order among the WRs? Will they stick with what they have or look to bring someone else in? How valuable will the number one receiver be?
2. Marcedes Lewis was added in the draft. What can we expect in his rookie year?
3. Fred Taylor was persuaded to return by Jimmy Smith. Will he remain with the team now that Smith has retired? What role will Jones and Drew have?
4. Can Leftwich stay healthy for the whole year?
Kansas City Chiefs
1. With a new coach and a change at OC, will the offense look anything like it has in recent years?
2. Can Larry Johnson play at such a high level if he has to carry all of the load for 16 games?
3. Will Priest Holmes come back? If he does, how valuable would he be if Johnson were to get hurt?
4. Can Tony Gonzalez put up better TD numbers or will Herm Edwards ask him to block all year for Larry Johnson?
5. Will Green and Kennison be as valuable under the new regime?
Miami Dolphins
1. With Ricky Williams suspended, what can we expect from Ronnie Brown now that he will carry the full load?
2. Will Culpepper be ready for week one, or at all? Who starts if he isn't ready?
3. What happens to Chambers and the passing game if Culpepper is ready?
4. What will Mularkey do as OC? Can we expect trick plays in goal line situations and a third down back, or will Ronnie Brown be used to pound it in?
Minnesota Vikings
1. Can Brad Johnson be effective again?
2. What can we expect from Koren Robinson?
3. Will Williamson emerge as the other starting WR?
4. How will Chester Taylor be used? Will there be some form of RBBC or with Culpepper and Moe Williams gone, might Taylor see most of the carries. What role will Moore and Fason have?
New England Patriots
1. Will Brady carry the team on his back and enjoy another top three finish, or will the running game and defense be effective enough to return Brady to the 6-10 range?
2. Can Dillon's fitness regime allow him to be effective even though he will be 32 in October?
3. What role will Maroney have? Does Dillon keep him off the field or will it be a RBBC? What value would Maroney have if Dillon were to get hurt?
4. With Givens leaving, who will be the number two receiver? Does Branch's value increase or stay the same now that he is the only experienced receiver in the system?
5. What happens at TE? Watson and Graham have ability and the Patriots drafted two more.
New Orleans Saints
1. Will Drew Brees be ready, and how effective will he be?
2. Can Joe Horn put his injuries behind him and have a good year?
3. Will Stallworth remain with the team? If he does, will he see more looks than Horn?
4. Will Hilton retain his starting job with Conwell back and does he have top 12 value?
5. Can Deuce McAllister do well just a year after suffering an ACL injury?
6. How does Reggie Bush factor in to the equation? If McAllister struggles, what upside does Bush have should he claim the starting job early?
7. How will the Saints react to the new coach, and will their play be lifted by being able to play at home after last year?
New York Giants
1. Will Eli Manning continue develop and can he improve his road performances?
2. Will Barber start to slow down?
3. What will Burress do this year, especially if Manning is more consistent?
4. Will Jeremy Shockey continue to be as involved in the passing game?
5. Will Brandon Jacobs retain his goal line vulture role?
New York Jets
1. Can Curtis Martin have an effective season as the oldest starting RB in the league? Will Houston or Blaylock impact his numbers?
2. What effect will the coaching changes have?
3. Can Pennington return healthy, or will Patrick Ramsey get a chance?
4. What will Coles and McCareins do if the QB situation pans out this year?
Oakland Raiders
1. Will Aaron Brooks improve the passing game or will it regress further?
2. Can Randy Moss stay healthy and return to top five status?
3. What is in store for LaMont Jordan this year? Can he improve his rushing yards? Will his goal line carries decrease with a healthy Moss such a big target in the end zone? Does Zack Crockett still have a chance at goal line carries?
4. Will Curry have any value as the third receiver?
Philadelphia Eagles
1. What can McNabb do now that Owens has departed?
2. How will the WR corps shake out? If Reggie Brown wins the main starting role, what can we expect?
3. Will L.J. Smith get even more looks with the WR Corps weakened?
4. Will Westbrook play the same role, or can Moats or Buckhalter eat into his carries? Who will get goal line carries?
Pittsburgh Steelers
1. Will Roethlisberger see an increased role this year now that he has fully absorbed the system and gained the confidence of the coaching staff? Could the balance shift a little more towards the passing game as a result?
2. Who will start opposite Ward, and will that WR2 have any fantasy value?
3. What can be expected of Heath Miller now that he has a year of experience? Will the departure of Bettis see Miller targeted more often in the end zone?
4. Does Cedric Humes have any value as a possible goal line vulture or will the team use Staley or Parker?
5. What is Parker's value now that the draft has passed and the Steelers haven't secured another back in free agency? Can he ever become a three down back?
San Diego Chargers
1. Can Rivers replace Brees? How will the offense be affected?
2. Will Tomlinson avoid the niggling injuries and do even better this year, and will the running game suffer with the change at QB?
3. Will McCardell continue to be effective?
4. Who will start opposite McCardell? Parker finished well last year, but Woods was added and Jackson is developing.
5. Is Gates still the top TE with the question marks at QB? Can we expect him to match the production of last year, or even surpass it as he won't be suspended in week one?
San Francisco 49ers
1. How will Alex Smith develop and will it provide a viable passing game? Is there any chance of Dilfer taking over for a while?
2. Can Bryant adjust as the leading receiver and does he have any fantasy value?
3. Will Battle hold on to the WR2 role? If not, who will step up?
4. What will happen at TE with Eric Johnson healthy and Vernon Davis drafted 6th overall? If Davis wins the job, is he a top 10 TE?
5. Will Gore have any value or will Barlow share carries or beat him out?
Seattle Seahawks
1. Will Shaun Alexander still be a top three back now that he has lost Hutchinson from the line and been given a lucrative contract?
2. Will Darrell Jackson be injury free by the start of the season?
3. Who will start opposite Jackson, and what role will Burleson have?
St. Louis Rams
1. How will the new coaching regime and the loss of Martz impact the offensive balance?
2. Can Bulger stay healthy if the team can protect him better as they plan to? What is his upside if he plays 16 games? Is Frerotte worth drafting in the last round if you take Bulger?
3. The Rams want to get Jackson 20+ touches a game and Faulk 10-12. What value does Jackson have if he only gets twice as many touches as Faulk?
4. Linehan wants to involve the TE more. Will Klopfenstein or Byrd emerge as a viable fantasy starter?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1. What is Simms capable of as the full time starter?
2. Can Carnell Williams stay healthy and should we expect improvement? Will he be used in third down situations?
3. Will Alstott vulture many TDs?
4. Will Galloway have another great season or will Clayton eat into his production? Can both be viable fantasy starters?
5. How much improvement does Alex Smith have in him?
Tennessee Titans
1. Will Steve McNair remain with the team.
2. If McNair leaves, does Volek get the job for a year or will Vince Young get a chance in his rookie year?
3. With Givens added, who is the top receiver on the team?
4. If Volek starts, will he latch on to Drew Bennett as in the past?
5. Can LenDale White take the starting job away from Chris Brown?
6. Will Travis Henry be released and end up with another team?
7. Which TE will have the most production, and can we expect the TE production as a whole to drop with a healthier WR corps?
Washington Redskins
1. How will OC Al Saunders impact the offensive balance of the team?
2. Does Portis have a chance to increase his production with Saunders coming from a team that featured Holmes and then Johnson so successfully?
3. Will Brunell retain the starting job all year? Might his production increase to Trent Green levels with the new scheme and better weapons?
4. With the additions of Randle El and Brandon Lloyd, will Santana Moss improve his numbers as the defense tries to cover everybody, or will his targets fall and his production decline?
5. Is there still room for Chris Cooley to get enough looks to be a top five TE?
What other questions are you posing, and what are your thoughts on the points I raised?
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