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Another Sunday, another Fantasy Notebook. ... Now that the draft is over and we know where all the most interesting rookie prospects will be plying their trade, it's time to start examining potential impact of the newcomers -- and the possible ramifications their arrivals will have on the previous status quo.

Remember: Being well-informed is an ongoing process. We have almost three months until training camp; I'll be using that time to help you build the baseline of information necessary to be ahead of the curve when camps open and we can truly get serious about establishing accurate values for our favorite prospects.

With that out of the way. ... Let's get busy, eh?

We'll get the ball rolling this week in Denver where, as Associated Press sports writer Arnie Stapleton suggested, "For good or bad," new head coach Josh McDaniels got a feel for talent on hand before making final preparations to begin rebuilding a team that has suffered through an off-season of turmoil and several seasons of mediocrity.

Given the extra mini-camp allowed for new coaching staffs, McDaniels held his a week before the draft.

Some of what he saw shaped the Broncos' approach last weekend, when he and rookie general manager Brian Xanders dipped into the college pool of talent after adding 16 free agents.

And one move in particular is of tremendous interest to Fantasy owners: The first-round selection of running back Knowshon Moreno.

After all, McDaniels and the Broncos spent considerable resources to acquire three free-agent running backs -- Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan and J.J. Arrington -- this offseason. Those three join a group of holdovers consisting of Peyton Hillis and Ryan Torain

Selvin Young, who has a herniated disc in his neck that isn't expected to be fully healed until September at the earliest, was released this week.

Prior to the draft, conventional wisdom said the newly-crowded backfield was a direct result of the injury epidemic the Broncos suffered last season with seven tailbacks ending up on injured reserve.

Given the logjam at the position, Denver Post staffer Lindsay H. Jones warned readers against expecting "the next, great 25-carry-per-game running back.

"That does not seem to be McDaniels' style.

"Instead, think of a trio -- at least -- of tailbacks, each with 10 to 15 touches a game. ..."

Uhhhh. ... Not so fast.

In what ESPN.com's Bill Williamson (correctly) characterized as "one of the early shockers of the draft," Denver took Moreno with the No. 12 pick. Williamson went on to suggest it wouldn't have been a huge shock if the Broncos took Moreno with the No. 18 if the right things fell into place.

But at No. 12?

Williamson added: "So much for all of those pressing defensive needs in Denver. ..."

Moreno, 5-10, 227 pounds, rushed for 2,734 yards and 30 touchdowns in only two seasons at Georgia. Coaches decided to redshirt Moreno in 2006.

According to his NFL.com scouting report, Moreno's 1,400 yards rushing in 2008 rank fifth on the Bulldogs annual record chart and rank behind Herschel Walker as the second-best season total by a sophomore.

Known as the team's workhorse, he averaged 19.15 rushing attempts per game, the second-most career total in school annals.

Now, according to Williamson, "There is no doubt Moreno will become the featured back in Denver where, during the Mike Shanahan days when running back were mined in the late rounds."

If nothing else, Moreno is a versatile back with outstanding quickness and elusiveness, and he gives the Broncos another weapon in the passing game with his exceptional hands and underrated route-running.

With McDaniels' preference for spread formations, Moreno could emerge as a big playmaker in his first season.

Asked about using the 12th pick overall to land a running back, McDaniels told ESPN's Ed Werder: "When you can get a great back, you take him."

McDaniels subsequently said he believes Moreno has the potential to be an every down running back, and said Moreno impressed the Denver staff by doing more than just carrying the ball at Georgia.

"One of the things that no one will talk too much about is his pass protection. For a college back that's something that doesn't get a lot of recognition," McDaniels said. "This guy stands in there and can put his face right in his numbers and he'll keep him off the quarterback."

But does Moreno's presence preclude a true competition?

Don't bet on it.

All on board certainly intend to battle for a piece of the action. Moreno's arrival won't change that. As Hillis said before the draft: "Everybody's going to get a legitimate shot."

I suspect the ability to learn McDaniels' offense will factor into the equation.

That's where Jordan considers himself ahead of the others.

"As far as knowing Josh's personality and knowing what's going to be expected of us, I have a leg up, yes," Jordan said. "I'm a true believer that if I'm at my best, then I'm one of the best backs in the league. We all think we can be dominant running backs in the NFL."

Buckhalter, who was the No. 2 back in Philadelphia to Brian Westbrook, was the pre-Moreno favorite to be the starter. And Hillis still isn't counting himself out.

He was an integral part of the Broncos' backfield last season, bringing a toughness to the position that was sorely missed after he tore a hamstring and Denver stumbled down the stretch to miss the playoffs for the third straight year.

For what it's worth, Hillis, who is almost fully recovered, made a good impression on the new coaching staff at the new staff's first voluntary mini-camp.

"He's a versatile player, so we're going to try to use him in different roles," McDaniels said. "He's going to do a lot of things."

Hillis had a remarkable rookie campaign, leading the team with 343 yards rushing in his short stint before getting hurt. He was promoted to tailback out of necessity and flourished, becoming the first Denver player since Floyd Little in 1968 to record both a 100-yard rushing game and a 100-yard receiving game in the same season.

Still, if he's asked to switch to fullback again, that's fine with him. Now, with Moreno on board, that's probably a pretty good approach.

As Williamson suggested, it's clear Denver will be running offense in the post-Jay Cutler days.

Whether it's Kyle Orton, acquired in the in the Cutler trade to Chicago, or Chris Simms, added as a free agent from Tennessee competing for the starting spot, it appears Denver will likely try to pound the football and eat clock.

That would both take pressure off of the quarterback and off of the rebuilding done. Still, as Williamson summed up: "Moreno is a good pick or Denver, but it was still unexpected that early in the draft. ..."

In a few related notes. ... Orton and Simms got their first taste of the team's new scheme during last month's mini-camp. With several inches of wet, heavy snow covering their outdoor practice fields, the Broncos held workouts inside their bubble throughout and much of the attention went to the quarterbacks.

According to Stapleton, McDaniels watched their every move alongside offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.

McDaniels, who tutored Tom Brady and Matt Cassel in New England before replacing Shanahan in Denver, has declared his quarterback competition wide open. While it would appear Orton is the front-runner, Stapleton advised readers it was clear that Simms has the stronger arm.

But they appeared about equal in every other aspect.

McDaniels told reporters he is looking for which quarterback best picks up the offensive system.

"I want them to distribute the ball to who we want to get it to. The ability to get in there, call the play, read the defense and understand where they're going to throw it, that's a big thing," the young coach explained. "And then get it to (the receivers) accurately."

McDaniels also said that he doesn't have a timetable for naming his starter.

Fortunately, learning a new system, even one as complex as McDaniels', doesn't faze Orton.

"There's plenty of teams around the league with new systems and plenty of new quarterbacks who have to learn new systems," he said. "It's nothing overly challenging or overly special, just come in and put the work in. It's not rocket science."

But it does take some smarts.

"I'm not going to say I'm Albert Einstein but I'm a pretty smart guy," said Simms. "They've shown they like guys with a little size and I can throw it pretty good, too, so those are all strengths for being in this system."

Meanwhile, Post staffer Mike Klis noted that one of McDaniels' challenges is Denver's group of talented receivers doesn't quite match up with the characteristics of the Patriots' receivers.

New England's No. 1 receiver, Randy Moss, is a deep-ball receiver, while the Broncos' top receiver, Brandon Marshall, is a physical, possession wideout capable of making big plays. Brandon Stokley is a prototype slot receiver, but New England's slot man, Wes Welker, more resembles Eddie Royal, the Broncos' No. 2 receiver, in strength.

With Welker making 111 and 112 receptions the past two seasons, it's logical to project that kind of workload going to the younger Royal than to Stokley. Royal had 91 catches last season as a rookie. Stokley, who turns 33 in June, hasn't topped 50 receptions since 2004.

"It's hard to say right now," Royal said after initial workouts. "He wants us to learn all positions so we can move around and do whatever's needed."

Whatever the case, the top three guys during last weekend's sessions were Royal, former Patriot Jabar Gaffney and Stokley, each lining up as the X, Y or Z for different plays.

Marshall, coming off recent hip surgery, wasn't able to take part in initial mini-camp workouts; he is expected to be fully recovered in time for training camp. ...

Meanwhile, after the Eagles failed to execute a trade for tight end Tony Gonzalez, they called the Broncos to seek a trade for Tony Scheffler. It didn't work out. And while the Philadelphia Inquirer has suggested a post-draft deal could still come down, such a move seems unlikely.

The Eagles offered only a third-round pick to Kansas City for Gonzalez, the all-time career leader among TEs in nearly every receiving category.

The Post suggests that Scheffler, at 26, could have more trade value than Gonzalez, at 33. It's a valid argument.

Scheffler will make $535,000 this year, while Gonzalez is the league's highest- paid tight end at $7 million. Scheffler led all tight ends with a 16.1-yards-per-catch average last season while Gonzalez averaged 11.0 yards per catch.

Still, it's hard to imagine anybody giving up a first-rounder for Scheffler. ...

Also in Denver. ... Upon arrival in Denver, McDaniels placed microscope-like attention to the details of the 8-8 team he inherited, among his discoveries were that Broncos players collectively lost approximately 450 pounds from the beginning of training camp last year until season's end.

The Broncos have altered the daily menu at team headquarters and have plans to expand the kitchen.

"It shows that he cares about us players as a whole," veteran safety Brian Dawkins said.

There may have been more significant factors that explain why the 2008 Broncos became the first team in NFL history to blow a three-game divisional lead with three games to play.

But an average weight loss of 8 to 9 pounds per player can't be discounted.

"We addressed the nutrition end of it," McDaniels said after the team's mini-camp workout Sunday. "We want to make sure our players are as healthy and fed as well as we can feed them. We don't want to end up with a different team in December as what we put together in September. ..."

And finally. ... Dawkins signed on Feb. 28, the same day the Cutler feud erupted when the quarterback learned McDaniels had talked about trading him.

Asked if he would still have come to Denver had he known Cutler was on his way out, Dawkins said he signed because of McDaniels, not Cutler.

"I played against the things that they've done with the Patriots for years and I totally respect it," Dawkins said. "Whoever is going to be our quarterback we're going to rally behind that person and we're going to move forward. That's who we are now, the Broncos, and there's a quarterback battle going on. ..."

In Arizona. ... Edgerrin James got his wish on Tuesday; Anquan Boldin, it appears, will come up short. We'll start with Boldin, whose unhappiness with his contract has resulted in repeated requests to be traded dating back to this time last year.

After the Cardinals stated a willingness to listen to potential trade offers the week before the draft, several teams called to inquire about Boldin, but there were only two firm offers and neither involved a first-round pick.

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo acknowledged offering a second-round pick, the 49th overall, for Boldin. And Cardinals general manager Rod Graves said another team offered a draft pick and players.

Contrary to reports, that team wasn't the Ravens, who never made an offer, said Graves, who declined to name the team.

"We weren't looking to give Anquan away," head coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

Some wondered if they were really ever interested in dealing the disgruntled wideout.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher caused a bit of a stir last Saturday when he told local reporters that the Titans left "several messages" with the Cardinals on Friday night to discuss trading for Boldin, but that the calls weren't returned until Saturday.

"They said that they weren't interested in moving him," Fisher said.

Graves, however, denied that, saying he exchanged messages with Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt on Friday and talked to someone else in the Titans' personnel department that day.

"There was communication between both teams," Graves said.

The next question is how much communication there will be between Boldin and Graves going forward.

Boldin clearly was leery of the trade-talk process, asking reporters on Friday if they thought the Cards had truly made an effort to deal him.

"Enough said," Boldin noted when nobody answered in the affirmative.

Further evidence of Boldin's sentiment would be the fact that -- exactly as he did when unhappy with his contract last year -- Boldin reported for the team's first mandatory mini-camp with a mysterious hamstring injury that will keep him from working with teammates this weekend.

"Hey, we know what's going on," Whisenhunt said when asked about the hamstring. "So I'm not going to have much to say about that."

Boldin laughed when asked if he was making a point with his hamstring injury.

"Naw, I'm not making a point, I'm just not able to go," he said.

The disgruntled veteran also said he won't give up hope for a trade. Boldin wouldn't say he would be okay with an extension from the team, however, repeating a couple of times "my mind never changed. I still feel the same way" as he has all along.

Boldin added it was "too early to say what I will or won't do" in terms of showing up to training camp.

Don't be surprised if the situation gets uglier this time than it did last year. According to Arizona Republic staffer Kent Somers, it's questionable if the team wants to extend Boldin's contract this year.

He has two years remaining on the deal, and there is some question of his worth after the lack of interest in trading for him. In addition, the club has re-signed quarterback Kurt Warner, and with the hefty contracts likely to be commanded by Adrian Wilson and Karlos Dansby, the Cardinals could wait until 2010 to try to re-sign Boldin.

Boldin is likely seeing a deal worth $8 million to $10 million a year, the going rate for a Pro Bowl receiver.

And despite Boldin's skepticism when it comes to the team's efforts to move him last weekend, the fact that he's still a Cardinal today gives Graves a little more leverage. ...

Meanwhile, three days after drafting Chris "Beanie" Wells in the first-round, the Cardinals finally cut ties with James. The move saves the team $5 million against the salary cap this year.

The 30-year-old James has been with Arizona for three seasons. He rushed for 1,159 yards in 2006 and 1,222 yards in 2007. In 2008, he saw decreased playing time after the Cardinals tried to move Tim Hightower into a more prominent role as a starter.

James had seven starts last season and rushed for 514 yards.

The Cardinals were looking for a running back, and Wells was the last of the top three available when the team made its choice with the 31st pick overall. Concerns about durability led to Wells' availability so late in the first round.

One of their potential picks, Donald Brown of Connecticut, went to Indianapolis with the No. 27 pick.

In fact, SI.com insider Peter King reported the Cardinals "really, really" wanted Brown for the kind of person he is and the kind of player he will be.

Now, Wells will compete with Hightower, a fifth-round pick last year, for the starting job.

Despite the arrival of a serious challenger for that spot, Hightower is feeling confident.

As ArizonaCardinals.com staffer Darren Urban noted, Hightower has a year under his belt -- which Wells won't -- and Hightower feels like he is in much better shape.

Hightower wouldn't say what his weight had been. "I ain't telling on myself, but (strength and conditioning coach) John Lott knew. I walked in and he called me Baby Huey or something. ‘You've got about 10 pounds to lose.' I am down 15. The difference a year makes."

All along Hightower has said he will be in a better position to succeed in his second year because he is, in his mind ahead of the curve.

He'll certainly be ahead of Wells -- at least when training camp opens -- because once this weekend's mandatory mini-camp ends, the youngster won't return until June.

That's because Wells isn't allowed to practice again until after Ohio State's school year is over. The school is on the quarter system, the reason for the late finish.

The Cardinals have six practices in May as part of their voluntary workouts. ...

Also in Arizona. ... Warner took part in the majority of Friday's mini-camp practices, despite undergoing hip surgery in March. "Kurt wanted to do everything," Whisenhunt said. "We had to hold him back."

"I felt pretty good," Warner said. "It felt good to be out there and to move around a little bit. ..."

In Cleveland. ... Joining Boldin on the list of players rumored to be on the move prior to the draft but who find themselves with their original teams are Braylon Edwards and Brady Quinn.

With the Giants and Browns admittedly already having discussed the possibility of a deal for Edwards (dating back to February's scouting combine), rumors circulated throughout last Saturday that the Browns would trade Edwards to the Giants for a second- and third-round pick.

The Giants picked North Carolina receiver Hakeem Nicks with their No. 29 overall pick.

According to Cleveland Plain Dealer beat writer Mary Kay Cabot, rumors also flew that the Browns and Eagles were discussing a deal that would have sent Edwards and the fifth overall pick to Philly for cornerback Sheldon Brown and guard Shawn Andrews.

The rumors apparently were false and the Browns were saying all the right things about the non-deal following the draft.

Head coach Eric Mangini said he sat down with Edwards during individual player meetings and "we spoke for a long time. We had a good meeting. He and [offensive coordinator)] Brian [Daboll] have talked quite a bit."

Said general manager George Kokinis: "Braylon's here and we're excited to move forward. Braylon is on this football team and we expect him to go out and play like he can."

King, however, in his weekly MMQB column, wrote the following: "I think -- no, I know -- that it's no lock that Edwards opens the season with Cleveland."

King went on to explain the Browns want to see how he takes to the new regime, how hard he works in the offseason and how he fits into Daboll's offense.

No coincidence that the Browns took two receivers -- Brian Robiskie, who is expected to compete for the No. 2 spot, and Mohamed Massaquoi -- in the second round.

If Edwards doesn't get on board, King doesn't believe the Browns will make the former first-round pick a rich man when his contract is up after next year. ...

Meanwhile, the New York Daily News reported that the Jets were interested in trading for Quinn and talked to the Browns last Friday about him. Instead, the Jets traded up from No. 17 for the Browns' No. 5 overall pick and picked Mark Sanchez.

How much thought did the Browns give to keeping Sanchez for themselves?

"We looked at it," said Mangini. "We made the trade and that's what we wanted to do. ..."

For what it's worth, King suggested that former Jets QB Brett Ratliff wasn't just a "throw-in" on the trade for the fifth pick; per King "Mangini likes him a lot. ..."

Also in Cleveland. ... Jamal Lewis will be 30 at the start of this season, and he is returning from offseason ankle surgery, but Kokinis believes Lewis can still be an effective player.

"I think he's still got tread there, I really do," Kokinis told Pro Football Weekly before the draft. "Being around Jamal, although it hasn't been the last couple years, you can't count that man out. He had a little clean-up in the ankle; he feels good. He is rehabbing, and I think he's going to come back strong."

Lewis is signed for two more seasons. He has a salary-cap numbers of $6.5 million in 2009 and $4 million in 2010. So the team clearly needs to find a running back of the future at some point.

But the fact they didn't take an RB until Round 6 makes it pretty clear Lewis will be their primary rushing weapon this fall. ...

In Washington. ... While admitting it's an "awkward situation," Jason Campbell told reporters on Monday that he's eager to participate in mini-camp this weekend and isn't "interested in looking back at everything that's happened."

Campbell, of course, remains Washington's No. 1 quarterback despite owner Daniel Snyder's efforts to replace him on at least two different occasions this offseason.

First it was an effort to land Cutler. Then it was an infatuation with Sanchez.

"One thing I was kind of upset about, it makes you feel like you're a bad quarterback and not wanted," Campbell said. "But at the same time, it makes you a stronger person and a stronger quarterback."

According to Washington Times staffer Ryan O'Halloran, Campbell became aware of his club's pursuit of Sanchez on Thursday and turned his phone off during the first part of the draft Saturday, opting for a silent response.

"If I was to act rebellious, it would only make the situation worse and it would affect a lot of people," he said.

Campbell was disappointed by his club's efforts to acquire Cutler, but had a deal been reached he at least could have taken some comfort in knowing he had been replaced by a Pro Bowl quarterback.

In Sanchez, the Redskins were infatuated with a quarterback with no NFL experience and only one season as a starter at the college level.

"That was a little bit of a shock, definitely, because we made some progress last season," Campbell said.

Had the Redskins traded up in the draft to land Sanchez, Campbell reportedly would have asked for a trade. Now, of course, it's all moot and Campbell knows it.

"Looking back isn't going to help me have a great year for our team," he said. "I'm not going to hold any grudges. That's not fair to my teammates and not fair to the people who support me.

"I'm ready to move forward and have one of my best years."

You have to admire Campbell's approach -- even if Snyder doesn't.

Still, you have to believe head coach Jim Zorn's job is a little tougher.

As King suggested Monday: "Someone in Washington is going to have to convince Campbell he's the Redskins' quarterback of the future."

For what it's worth, an unnamed veteran told O'Halloran that a trade for Sanchez would have been received negatively in a locker room that includes many players older than 30 who are not interested in a rebuilding project.

"A new guy and we would have had to start from square one -- again," one veteran said. "He could have come here and been a great quarterback, but we're glad it didn't happen. We're glad Jason is still our guy."

For now. ... There has been some post-draft speculation suggesting Snyder's desire to ditch Campbell had more than a little to do with the fact nobody was interested in trading for Campbell when the Redskins shopped him in the effort to land Cutler.

That being the case, Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio advised readers this week not to rule out a trade for a player like Quinn. The Redskins also were interested in Byron Leftwich before he signed with the Bucs. Florio believes Leftwich might be available given the Bucs' decision to spend a first-round pick on Josh Freeman.

Whatever the case, Florio correctly suggests it's becoming increasingly clear that the Redskins -- or more specifically Snyder -- don't view Campbell as the long-term answer. ...

In New York. ... Mike Tannenbaum has earned a reputation as someone who will leave no stone unturned in trying to procure talent as the Jets' general manager.

But as the Bergen County Record suggested this week: "There still are some rocks that should be left undisturbed, because what's beneath them can be very unsightly."

A case in point occurred last Sunday, when word leaked out that the Jets had made a preliminary inquiry about troubled wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who is still facing possible prison time for a gun-possession charge.

The Jets confirmed the inquiry in a statement from Tannenbaum, who noted that asking about Burress was "consistent with our normal approach of performing our due diligence."

That's understandable. After all, the team is still lacking a front-line receiver to start opposite Jerricho Cotchery. But Burress?

Well, new head coach Rex Ryan didn't squash the Burress-related chatter in his first public comments on the subject Friday.

Asked if the team would pursue Burress if he's available to play, Ryan said, "We'll let that situation happen and we'll see. I want to see our guys through these camps. Let's see what we have here."

Ryan further explained: "If anybody is out there, you want to find out because there are a lot of unknowns. Quite honestly, through that conversation (with Burress' agent, Drew Rosenhaus) I don't think that it's clear right now either way (concerning his legal troubles.) Is he going to be available? Is he not? None of you know that answer, either. We just wanted to see if they had heard anything. ..."

The Record went on to note that for all the on-field benefits that could be gained by adding Burress, he's been a constant problem off the field long before he shot himself in the leg in November.

He reportedly had been fined 40 to 50 times for various transgressions before Giants head coach Tom Coughlin finally suspended him for one game. Ryan, meanwhile, has talked about his efforts to “build team unity" and Burress is an expert at ignoring team unity.

And according to Newark Star-Ledger staffer Dave Hutchinson, Tannenbaum is excited about wide receivers David Clowney and Brad Smith and that's why the team didn't draft or trade for a wide receiver -- and hopefully, why they won't go after Burress.

Hutchinson went on to advise readers the Jets are going to give Clowney and Smith every opportunity to succeed -- and then some. The organization really feels that either or both have the ability to be big-time players.

Hutchinson further explained that if neither steps up during the offseason program and the mandatory June mini-camp, the Jets will then -- and not before -- seriously consider trading for a veteran wide receiver or signing a veteran off the street (Marvin Harrison, perhaps).

If they trade for a player, Hutchinson believes Edwards might be somebody they target.

But at this point, the ball is in Clowney and Smith's court, and it's up to them to take advantage of their opportunity. ...

And finally this week, from the "I'm Too Sexy For My Pads" file. ... Still more on Edwards. NFL safety and model Will Demps, talking to ESPN The Magazine, recounted the following conversation with Edwards while Demps' Texans took on Cleveland last December (a game the Browns lost, 28-9).

"Last year, I was with the Texans, and when we played the Browns, Braylon Edwards asked me between plays if we could talk after the game about modeling and acting," Demps claimed.

Based on Edwards' league-high 16 drops last season, it's safe to assume he wasn't hoping to land a gig as a hand model. ...

That's it for this week's Notebook. I'll check in again next Sunday. ... In the meantime, keep an eye on the News & Views section of this site for late-breaking news and other tidbits of interest. Watch the Headline News section for more in-depth reviews of current events -- including the Fantasy Notebook.