By John Culligan (2004 WCOFF co-champion)

Sure enough the Bears are going to the Super Bowl and the other half of my dream match up, the Patriots are going home. That's okay; Peyton Manning gets a chance to silence his critics if his Colts can crack the Bears solid defense. At the very least, I think it's going to be a great game. Prediction: Colts -- 27 Bears -- 21.

The wonderful thing about being a sports columnist is recognizing how very wrong you can be when you're venturing your opinions. It tends to keep you humble. I was sorry to see Bill Parcells retire. I've heard that Jerry Jones refused to give him an extension. I can't vouch for the veracity of the rumor but if it's true, I say, "shame on you, Jerry!" After all, the Giants were willing to extend Tom Coughlin for another year; couldn't Jones have given the future Hall of Fame coach, Parcells, the same consideration. So Dallas joins the hunt to fill a coaching vacancy and who's to say what Tony Dungy will do after the Colts appearance in the Super Bowl? There's speculation that Dungy will have something to say about his future after the game. Hmm? Sounds ominous if you're reading between the lines.

Yes, I was shocked that the Raiders are snatching the young from the nursery. It's not so much a negative opinion of Lane Kiffin; rather it's a sign of the desperation that permeates the Silver & Black. No "real" coaching prospects want to deal with his highness, Al Davis. Over in Miami, the decision was made to bring in Cam Cameron to right the Dolphins' ship. As good as he is from a technical standpoint, Cam has some issues in unifying the faithful and the irreverent and it could hinder how the team responds to him as a head coach. The other vacancy filled was the Steelers' head coaching slot and that just brings me to my final evaluations. ...

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

I was shocked that the Steelers chose to go outside the organization in selecting Mike Tomlin as the new head coach. I think that Russ Grimm was also, as he packed up his gear and headed off to the sunny desert of Arizona. I think that Russ will do wonders teaming up with Ken Whisenhunt and you can get very excited about the Cardinals next year. Wait a minute; this little ditty is about the Steelers. I apologize.

Tomlin brings youth, energy and defensive prowess in his resume to Steeltown. The question is; who's he going to bring in to continue Ben Roethlisberger's development. Unless the team replaces Ken and Russ with some quality folks, we could see the Steelers slipping further into the abyss just one year after their Super Bowl glory. "Big" Ben is NOT just another caretaker quarterback. In the previous two years he never had over 300 passing attempts and the team was successful. Last year he threw the ball a career high 469 times and the team didn't make the playoffs. Uh oh! Maybe he is just a caretaker and we should never consider him among the ranks of "quality" FF passers? Nah, I don't think so and here's why. It was expected that Ben was going to grow in his position and use the passing game more, but along the way he had a face-to-face meeting with a patch of asphalt and an internal organ that didn't realize it was the wrong time to go. Ben just never got untracked, the team played uninspired and without the pride of a Champion. Maybe Jerome Bettis took some of their heart when he ambled off into retirement. Whatever the problems were, forget about them. Look for Roethlisberger to get better. Watch his continued growth with Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. He will become more disciplined and cut down on his interceptions, provided the new coaching regime sees him for his skills and doesn't adopt a conservative offensive philosophy. He's definitely worthy enough to be your back up FF QB and probably going to be available in rounds 12 – 14.

Looking at the hook up, Ward, who is the number one receiver for the Steelers, missed two full games and was limited by injuries in at least a half dozen more, yet he still managed to haul in 74 catches for just under a 1,000 yards and six TDs. He's still a good number two receiver for your fantasy team but be wary of the young Holmes continued development. Ward may have to share number one on the Steelers with number one-B in the passing attack. What that means is that when it comes time to draft your number two receiver and you're faced with a choice of Ward or Holmes, you'll have to decide if you're looking for consistency or upside. Santonio is a future game breaker. If he can maintain focus and have a positive team attitude you can expect hearing his name called early in future FF drafts. It probably wouldn't hurt his speed to add about ten pounds of muscle and give him more durability. Look for both of these studs to be gone before the fifth round. Both Cedrick Wilson (I pegged him as a sleeper. ... oops!) and Nate Washington proved to be no more than blips on the fantasy radar and deserve no consideration in September.

Probably the only bright spot for the Steelers was "Fast" Willie Parker. Despite concerns about his size and his ability to stand up to an increased workload, Parker excelled when he carried the ball 21 times or more in a game. He also managed to catch 31 passes making him a solid pick in leagues that credit a point per reception. Now there is a little bitter with the sweet; whether the team gave up on the running game early or it was just a matter of abandoning a losing strategy, Parker looked his worse against stalwart defenses like the Ravens (twice), the Chargers, the Jaguars and the Broncos. If you can look the other way for a few down games, I think that Willie is a very good choice in the second round of your draft next season.

I was one of those who expected more from Heath Miller at TE. With Bettis' departure, surely the Pittsburgh brain trust would see the advantages of targeting Miller in the red zone on a regular basis. They even talked about it in training camp. I guess it was just so much "coachspeak" as the Steelers, who have never been one to really utilize the TE position went with their status quo. Heath actually had less catches, yards and TDs in his second full season. He has good but not great speed, great hands and runs impeccable routes. If the new staff really does decide to utilize him, he could be a sleeper TE pick and surpass Ben Watson and Randy McMichael among the top 12 TEs. If you think TE is important then take him as your second one somewhere around the 12th round.

Looking at the D/STs, I would say that with Bill Cowher's retirement, there might be a dip in the performance of the defense. A lot will depend in what they do in free agency and the draft. They need depth and more speed if they want to regain form as an elite defense in the fantasy world. Jeff Reed is just average and probably not worth drafting based on his past performance. His best stretch of games was the six he played in during his rookie year. Except for extra points, he's been erratic at best since then.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Are we glad that Marty Schottenheimer is still the coach in San Diego? Sure, why not? After all, the one thing we know about Marty is that he does it the same way all the time. That's what we crave in FF, knowing what to expect. With the departure of Cameron should we expect a drop off in LaDainian Tomlinson's numbers? I think that you can believe that, but not because of Cam's departure. It's just too much to expect anyone to have career years back-to-back. As great as LT is, you will probably see more growth on the part of Philip Rivers and less dependency on Tomlinson. Of course, you'll also see defensive coordinators doing more to slow him down just like they did the year after Manning threw for 49 TDs. LT will still be head and shoulders above other RBs and should be the number one pick in the draft; just don't expect the same production as this past season. Michael Turner will probably move to greener pastures (translation – free agent bonanza), so look to see where he lands and evaluate his prospects as a possible second round choice.

Speaking of Rivers, as a first year starter he truly was remarkable. Of course with LT taking the pressure off him, he was allowed to develop with less need for him to excel at crucial times. Look for him to get better and start to take the pressure off Tomlinson. He can take control of the game and as his rapport with Vincent Jackson and Eric Parker grows so will his game. He has the tools to be an elite FF quarterback but not in 2007. If he were still there when everyone but you has a QB, it wouldn't hurt for you to take him. Statistically, he finished better than Eli Manning and 20 other NFL starters, yet he'll probably still be available after the eighth round.

Keenan McCardell probably won't be back with the Chargers and if he is, he won't be the starter. Jackson has youth, speed, size and strength that can't be ignored. Jackson enters that legendary third season when WRs are supposed to breakout. It may happen that way but on a team with Tomlinson and Antonio Gates, it's unlikely that he'll become an elite go-to-guy for FF owners. It may be wise to take him as your third receiver, but certainly not in the early going. Parker will probably line up opposite Jackson but is not someone you want to seek out for your team. He'll probably catch about 50 passes and not get in the end zone very much. With LT, Gates and now Jackson definitely ahead of him in the pecking order, Parker is no better than waiver wire fodder and unworthy of being drafted. The same can be said for any other Charger receivers; don't bother.

Of course, the best receiver on the team is the basketball/football hybrid known as Gates. His numbers in 2006 reflected a downturn, yet he led the league in TE fantasy points. The downturn is a direct result of LT's banner season but shouldn't turn you off to making Gates the first TE taken in the fantasy draft. Just draft smartly. Because of 2005, Antonio was placed on a pedestal and taken as early as the third round. Let's not do that again, if you must have him, it should be in the late fourth or early fifth rounds. He's only 2.65 fantasy points per game better than the seventh best TE, who you probably can get in the eighth round.

Nate Kaeding is one of those kickers that it's okay to take before the last couple of rounds. The prolific offense gives him more opportunities than most of the other kickers in the league. He's young with a strong leg and is getting more accurate with each season he plays. If there's any drawback to him, it's the team scores TDs so frequently that his field goal attempts are only seventh in the league. The Chargers D/STs are ranked fourth and only going to get better. Even with injuries and suspensions they tied for first in sacks. The pressure they bring to opposing QBs will consistently force turnovers. They should be the third defense taken behind the Bears and the Ravens. Even then they may surprise you and become number one.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

You've got to like the mini-resurgence of the 49ers under Mike Nolan with all indicators pointing up for the team. His style and confidence transfer well to the attitudes of the players. I can't recall hearing any internal dissent (even from Antonio Bryant) from the team this past year. It will be important for the team to keep Norv Turner for his tutelage of QB, Alex Smith and continuity in the offense. There are a few areas that need tweaking but overall the future looks good.

Seeing the difference in Smith from '05 and '06 made me very appreciative of the talent Turner has in developing NFL quarterbacks. Smith still has much to learn but was very impressive in his sophomore campaign. His interceptions should come down with experience and a quality addition to the receiving corps. As he matures, he will make better decisions and become a second tier FF player. It's not necessary to have him high on your draftboard as his production will make him more fitting as a third QB on your bench for insurance.

Frank Gore entered the '06 season with questions about his durability from the FF community. Team management obviously didn't share those concerns when they traded away Kevan Barlow. Gore played through the little injuries and never missed a start, doing whatever the team asked of him. He was equally effective running and catching the ball, leading the team in receptions and you should look for an increase in his trips to the end zone. He's definitely a first round pick and you should feel comfortable with him as your lead RB.

Bryant was the 49ers number one receiver at the start of the season and looked as if he deserved the ranking for the first two games. He has very good skills but everywhere he's played he's managed to play his way out off the team. Arnaz Battle has a lot of heart and had his best year as a pro in '06 but it doesn't appear that he's headed for stardom in the fantasy ranks. He seems destined to be the second WR on his team and his skills and upside aren't there for him to be a consideration as one of your top four receivers. Neither of the San Francisco WRs should be anything more than deep bench players. If you draft them, it should be in the later rounds with kickers and defenses.

The praise and respect shown to Vernon Davis was unwarranted. People don't realize that rookie TEs usually don't make much of an initial impact. He will be a star based on his physical talent but realize that the team has to use those talents in a manner that translate into fantasy success. Because of the time he missed due to injury, we didn't get a very good look at his potential. You shouldn't peg him as your starting TE with all the proven players out there that could be your number one. It would probably be best to pencil him in as your backup and see what develops. Maybe he'll get the feel of the position and become a starter for you later in '07. Eric Johnson played well in Davis absence and is a good pass catching TE but you shouldn't consider drafting him because TE is not one of those positions that you insure with the starter's backup. If there's an injury you'll find Johnson on waivers.

Joe Nedney was quietly one of the better kickers in the league. Finishing eighth in fantasy kicking points, he displayed good accuracy and range. His only limitation was in the offense's inability to score touchdowns. If the team improves so will Nedney's value to your team. Don't reach for him if you're a 49ers fan, he'll be there in the last round. You've heard of bend but don't break defenses, well this defense bends, breaks and breaks again. They gave up a lot of points and didn't get very many turnovers. There need to be a lot of adjustments made before you consider drafting this D/STs for your team.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Following their disappointing Super Bowl loss, you could look at this team and say they were still hungry and would be back with a vengeance. They had very good talent and made a couple of key free agent acquisitions. A drive to the big game surely would mean great FF numbers for their skill players. It didn't happen that way as key injuries affected the continuity of all the players we were counting on.

Starting with Matt Hasselbeck, he began the season with two new receivers, Nate Burleson and Deion Branch, which resulted in a severe learning curve for the playbook and timing. Matt missed most of five games, himself, but that wasn't all of it. Injuries to Shaun Alexander and Jerramy Stevens further contributed to offensive inconsistency. Looking at all of the factors, it's a wonder that Hasselbeck's FF owners didn't collectively assemble at the "Kevorkian Clinic for Hopeless Causes." All right, that was last season. Is there any reason why we can't expect a big time rebound from the bald headed lefty? Look for the positive signs in mini-camp. Will Burleson learn the playbook? Will the walking wounded recover? If the answer to these and other questions are yes, then you can fully expect to rank Hasselbeck among the second tier of the QBs top ten. You'll probably be able to get him around the seventh round.

Alexander played six years without missing a game. He averaged between 350 and 400 touches a season in that span. Unfortunately, he broke a bone in his foot early and tried to play through it. In an abbreviated season, he wasn't able to do more than show flashes of his elite ability. This is another comeback to look forward to. Alexander will be a top five RB and if you get him with the fifth pick, you'll be getting great value for your FF roster.

Darrell Jackson doesn't always practice because of little things, but come Sunday, he's Matt's favorite target and consistent producer. Despite missing the last three games of the regular season, Jackson managed to catch a career high in TDs. This makes Darrell an exciting prospective number one FF player, right? Well maybe not; with the acclimated Branch and Burleson giving Matt more options and if D.J. Hackett stays and continues to grow, we're looking at too many options and a dilution of opportunities. The scenario looks too much like something out of Bill Belichick's offensive storyline. Keep a close eye on this and believe that Jackson may be the number one for Seattle but a fantasy number two for you. If there are too many children to share the candy, you could get Jackson in the fifth and Branch in the sixth.

Stevens showed tremendous upside at the end of 2005 and he was tagged as a good value pick among the top twelve TEs. That idea blew up early in camp, when it was determined that he needed additional surgery and would miss the first five games. Add to that a period for getting into game shape and synchronization with the QB and it totals out to a lost season. His fiery temperament compares to another Jerramy as does his occasional lack of focus. With all of this being said, Stevens is still worthy of your consideration as one of the first backup TEs taken off the board. He'll probably be there after the first twelve rounds have passed.

Josh Brown is a kicker with good range and decent accuracy. He benefits from the teams good offense and you'll benefit as well taking him late after he's been bypassed by bigger names. Seattle's D/STs is better than average, especially with Burleson on return duty. They get their share of turnovers and sacks. If there was a problem in '06 it was that they were on the field too much, thanks in part to the injuries on offense. They could be a sleeper pick in the later rounds.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

The Sporting News reports that St. Louis management has begun talks with Marc Bulger for an extension to his contract that expires at the end of next year. Having played a full season for the first time, Bulger produced career highs in yardage and TDs in what was an otherwise disappointing season for the team as a whole. Marc is in his prime and there's no reason that you should hesitate to select him among the first six QBs in your draft. His supporting cast is as good as it gets and it can be predicted that he'll once again produce quality numbers when you take him in the sixth or seventh round.

Sure you can blow the horn for Bulger but the number one fantasy player on the Rams is Steven Jackson. He runs fast to the outside, he runs strong up the middle, he catches the ball and he has a nose for the end zone. He's young and strong with rarely a bad game and a good future. Especially in leagues with credit for catches, he's a top four pick and will serve you well as your first RB. Don't hesitate to pull the trigger on him over some other better-known backs.

Torry Holt had a down year; at least compared to his previous three, it was a sub-par season. Is that all that can be said? 93 catches, 1,188 yards and ten TDs is a very good year for most receivers but a slight let down for one of the quietest studs at any of the skill positions. He played with an injured knee for most of the season and still managed to finish third in catches and tied for third in TDs among all the WRs in the league. Pending the results of his off-season surgery and recovery, you can feel at ease in taking Holt as one of the top FF receivers in as early as the late second round if you pulled a stud RB in the first. Isaac Bruce was the victim of an obituary I wrote before last season. I predicted that Kevin Curtis would run right by him into the second receiver position on the Rams. Mea Culpa, I was wrong.

Although he's never been much of a TD producer (twice he reached double figures in his career), he's still one of the finest route runners in the game. What he's lost in speed, he's made up for with quickness in and out of his breaks. Even as age advances, he's still got one more solid year as a third or fourth receiver on you roster. You may not see spectacular numbers but he'll be worth selecting if he's still available when the draft reaches double digits. Because of his name, someone may select him earlier and that would be reaching. Curtis with great speed and good hands was unable to push himself into Bruce's starting job. Even as the heir apparent to Isaac, the Rams may not see the benefit of his development. He's a free agent in a market that is weak in WRs; he'll get a lot of attention and he'll have to make the choice of staying with the Rams or moving to the money. If he stays, he won't have much fantasy value behind Holt and Bruce and even if he goes, you'll have to be wary of the circumstances on his new team. He could make a good fit in San Francisco or Minnesota and see his value rise tremendously. It wouldn't be the same if he lands in a place like Tennessee or Washington. If Curtis leaves, the slot position will fall to Shaun McDonald or Dane Looker, neither of whom would be worth a draft consideration.

Joe Klopfenstein had some adjusting issues as do most TEs entering the NFL, but he looks as though with a little more muscle and knowledge, he'll be the fixture at TE for the next five to ten years. He's got decent speed, soft hands and a willing attitude. If the team wants to add the TE position to its list of offensive options, you could be looking at a sleeper. At the very least he'll make a decent backup for your starter's bye week and an occasional situational start. He'll be available very late so don't reach.

In the dictionary next to the word consistent is a picture of Jeff Wilkins. He's very accurate from close in, better than most from distance, gets the opportunities from a potent offense and has the confidence of the coaching staff to try the long ones. For his value, he can be selected as early as round sixteen in a twenty round draft. The St. Louis D/STs give up too many TDs and are in the middle of the pack in turnovers and sacks. They need a lot of help through the draft or free agency and even then, it would be hard to justify taking them as a part of my fantasy team. If you're a "homer" that just has to have something St. Louis on your team and it's the end of the draft and you've already got another defense…well, you get the picture.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Did you think the Buccaneers could go from playoff team to patsy in just one season? Well not many others did either. We're glad that Chris Simms is going to recover minus a spleen, but we're not sure he's the answer at QB anyway. Even before getting hurt, he didn't look very impressive. He was constantly under pressure with a porous offensive line and a coaching staff that was probably asking him to play beyond his talent. He finished off the '05 campaign looking okay and the expectations were that he would develop. Suppose he can't develop past the "okay" stage? What does that do to the value of his supporting cast? What does it do to Jon Gruden's future in Tampa Bay? It's hard to have any faith in Simms, if he's the starter and there's a chance the Bucs could bring in a free agent veteran to push him or takeover. Don't consider Chris Simms on draft day. If he's shown more after the first couple of games, he'll probably be available on waivers.

There were a lot of expectations for Cadillac Williams after a good rookie season. Sure he got hurt and hit the "rookie" wall in '05, but all of that was supposed to be history as he went through the mini-camps, increased conditioning and was learning how to catch out of the backfield so that he'd be on the field more in 2006. Is it the play of the offensive line or is he another fragile running back (he battled assorted back, shoulder and foot injuries all season) taking up residency in Florida? You can't be sure and you have to be wary of taking him too high in your draft. It's possible that he could be there after you've taken a solid pair of starters and he could be your depth with upside, but don't draft him before you've solidified a couple of good WRs also. Project him for the fifth round or possibly the sixth. Michael Pittman has actually shown value because of his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. When he runs he lacks smoothness but still accomplishes the job, averaging close to five yards a carry. He probably would see even more time if Mike Alstott decides to retire but there are no indications that's going to happen. Still Pittman is a good option in the later rounds for a few points during bye-weeks and as insurance if Williams proves to be injury prone.

All of the Michael Clayton comeback stories proved to be wishful thinking; disappointing a lot of hopeful FF owners who were looking for a return to his rookie stats. Let's say it now, "I'm not going to draft Michael Clayton." Put him in the category of "show me first." So let's look instead at the only true fantasy value on the Buccaneers, Joey Galloway. He's good and he's fast. Even at age 35, he doesn't appear to have lost much speed. He worked well with whoever threw him the ball but it's pretty obvious that he would have been even better with the same QB for the season. It's not unreasonable to assume that he can return to his '05 stats as his career is winding down. If it begins to look better at QB in Tampa Bay, you might want to consider Joey as a second or third receiver in the seventh or eighth round. Don't try to plug in journeyman Ike Hilliard as a consideration and WRs, Maurice Stovall and Paris Warren won't leave opposing cornerbacks trembling. Except for Galloway, you shouldn't rate any of the others on your draft list.

It's sad to say that the TE position in Tampa Bay is barren. Alex Smith made his only splash in the very first game of his career and has done little since. It's possible the bad offensive line has hurt his ability to get out into the pattern or it could be he's just not part of the plan. Anthony Becht should be the blocker in the two TE setup, freeing Smith to get out there but so far in two years that just hasn't happened. Alex can join the other receivers that aren't worthy of your consideration.

D/STs are another area that you should forget about. This once proud unit is among the cellar dwellers in FF production. They let opposing QBs have as much time as they wanted and couldn't force turnovers. Don't let their former reputation fool you into considering them on draft day. The same can be said for kicker Matt Bryant, whose brief moment of glory in '06 was a 62-yard field goal. He was only around 50 percent from beyond the forty and was further hampered by a weak offense that severely limited his opportunities, including PATs.

TENNESSEE TITANS

A lot of credit goes to Jeff Fisher, who has the incredible ability to motivate whatever talent is laid before him. He knew the season was going nowhere fast when he made the switch to the human sparkplug, known as Vince Young.

Now let's not get crazy and proclaim Young as the next fantasy QB messiah. He's still got a lot to learn. He has great leadership ability and physical talent. To my mind, he actually looked better than Michael Vick did in his rookie year and he seems to be more coachable. Play it by ear on draft day and consider him as a backup for whomever you pick as your starter, especially if he's available in the early part of your draft's second half.

Chris Brown was the starter, LenDale White the drafted heir apparent and Travis Henry was insurance. In the end it paid to have the insurance as Henry has resurrected his career and claimed the starting berth for next season. There's little doubt that Brown will be gone and that White is still not mature enough to handle the role of feature back, so you've got to take Henry by the third round. It's expected that Young will vulture away some scores and that White will be used on occasion in the goal line package and as a receiver out of the backfield. Don't let that stop you from taking Henry as your second RB. If he's not toking then he'll be solid.

The Titans need a lot of help with the WRs. If this unit were stronger it would certainly ease the learning curve for Young. Drew Bennett is a free agent who will probably test the waters based on a three game span in December of 2004. He didn't do much before and hasn't since then. David Givens was an injury plagued free agent bust and the Titans were reduced to using Bears castoff Bobby Wade or youngsters, Brandon Jones, Roydell Williams and Courtney Roby. Based on the '06 stats, who would dream of drafting any of these players next season. Watch for developments in mini-camp, the NFL draft and free agency before considering any the WRs for Tennessee.

TE was supposed to be a solid FF position with the Titans. Erron Kinney, Ben Troupe and Bo Scaife hauled in a TE record 147 passes in 2005. Kinney gets hurt early and Troupe, who should inherit Kinney's share of looks, suddenly appears to be sleeper material. We know now that didn't happen. Even before Troupe's season ended after game ten, he was a total bust as the game plan somehow changed and relegated the TE to blocking responsibilities. Because of their previous history, you should consider Kinney or Troupe if healthy on your draft day but only as a late round backup.

Someone pointed out to me that I've called the shot on Neil Rackers and Robbie Gould in the last two seasons. They figured they would let me in on the next blossoming kicker in the form of Rob Bironas. I thanked them and quietly walked away thinking that nothing had stood out in my mind about the second year veteran. After researching his brief history and seeing that he kicked a 60-yard field goal, I won't make any recommendations on him. He's failed to achieve 80 percent success in his FG attempts and doesn't get a lot of opportunities with this team. He's NOT draftworthy and you can take the lesson away with you to always do your own research and formulate your own conclusions. As far as the Titans D/STs, you probably shouldn't count on them moving up the ranks soon. They had four defensive TDs but without those scores they would be ranked in the cellar of defensive teams. This is another team that you shouldn't seriously consider as draftable.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Are the Redskins committed to Jason Campbell as their QB? I believe they are. After throwing him into the fire, the team didn't just ask him to be a caretaker, they let him pass the ball. Maybe he did win only two games of the seven he started but his debut was marked by throwing ten TDs and only six interceptions. Yes, he'll have his ups and downs but there is potential for good things from Campbell and whereas you won't want to jump on his bandwagon for next year, keep him in mind for the future. Third string backup on your team at best and only in the last few rounds.

Clinton Portis' season was doomed from the start. When he suffered the shoulder injury he also lost valuable practice time. When he came back, his timing suffered and so did his numbers. Yet, if he played the full slate of games his stats would have been okay. Probably not what you would have expected from a first round pick but still better than some of the disappointments that plagued us from other teams. Portis is expected to fully recover and despite the team's apparent love affair with Ladell Betts, the starting gig will revert back to Clinton. He's a late first round pick and if he's our first pick, you'll have to consider taking his insurance policy early. Look for T.J. Duckett to be traded.

Where would the Redskins be without their leading receiver, Santana Moss? What's that you say Chris Cooley caught more passes than Moss; well yes he did! As a matter of fact Cooley even managed to tie Moss in TD receptions. I guess this is more of a reflection of the sorry state of the Redskins' air attack than anything else. If Al Saunders and Joe Gibbs can get on the same page, I believe that Moss will have a comeback season in '07 that will warrant him being a number one fantasy WR and be taken in the fourth round. Cooley is one of the better TE threats in the league and deserves to be an early fantasy pick at the TE position. Don't wait too long; he'll be gone before the eighth round. Now the other WRs aren't worth anything in fantasy value. Antwaan Randle El has brief flashes of brilliance before fading into multi-game obscurity. Brandon Lloyd was an even greater disappointment failing to give us even the flashes that we got from Randle El. It's obvious that David Patten, the previous year's big acquisition is not worth drafting and James Thrash's best seasons are behind him. The names all sound good but the quality of play leaves much to be desired. Drafting any of these names will be just that – drafting a name.

Shaun Suisham is not the Redskins answer at the kicker position nor is he yours. Look for the Skins to do some shopping or bring in a boatload of people for tryouts. This is a position on this team that you shouldn't even be considering. And now the news guess worse; the Washington D/STs finished dead last in fantasy points. Even if everyone who was injured came back healthy and even if they made some key free agent acquisitions and even if they made great draft picks, you can't possibly want to take this defense. A defense needs time to jell and it won't happen immediately even if they do everything right.

That wraps up this series and I hope that you enjoyed the analysis and found some good things to ponder. It's okay to take a break after the Super Bowl but if you want to be successful and have more fun with this hobby, you should never leave it entirely alone. Don't just monitor the movement of skill players; much of what they do depends on their offensive lines. Look for the departures and arrivals in the trenches and you'll have an edge in evaluating the guys who matter most.

Look for me next year and enjoy yourself above all else. Life's too short. You can reach me at John.Culligan@Gmail.com Thanks for reading.