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Another Sunday, another Fantasy Notebook. ... Okay. So it's Friday. But with travel plans precluding me from posting as usual (when Saturday turns to Sunday), I'm breaking out this week's edition early.

I'll return to the regular schedule next weekend. ...

Anyhow, it's been a relatively quiet week on Favre-Watch 2009. In fact, other than Vikings head coach Brad Childress suggesting Minnesota is keeping the door open for Brett Favre's possible return (something we already knew), we haven't heard much at all from the veteran signal caller's side.

It's been rather nice. ... Of course, gluttons for Favre-based punishment are welcome check Favre's FootballDiehards profile page for all the latest.

With that out of the way, let's see what else is going on, shall we?

We'll get the ball rolling this week in New Orleans, where the spotlight has pretty much been off Drew Brees and the Saints' record-setting offense as the Saints spent most of their offseason focusing on building a more dynamic complement on defense.

But according to New Orleans Times-Picayune beat writer Mike Triplett, Brees is still eager to build on last season's offensive success

Despite the obvious needs on the other side of the ball, Brees said it would have been wrong to sit back and assume the offense is "just fine."

"Heck no. We always have ways to get better," Brees said. "We've been No. 1 in offense two of the last three years. But when you do that, people start gunning for you. Everybody watches your film. Everybody evaluates you. So you know they're going to scheme for you.

"So you have to continue to stay ahead of the curve."

Brees was, of course, willing to concede there's reason for optimism.

"I think (last year's 5,000-yard passing season) is something we can kind of hang our hat on a little bit."

No kidding. ...

Triplett went on to remind readers the Saints did make some minor changes to the offense, replacing fullback Mike Karney with free agent Heath Evans and releasing veteran tailback Deuce McAllister and receiver David Patten to make room for some younger guys.

Technically, the Saints didn't use any of their draft picks on an offensive player for the first time in team history. But they traded two of those picks away late last summer for veteran tight end Jeremy Shockey, who Brees suggests could almost be considered a newcomer this year after an injury-marred 2008 campaign.

"The fact that we actually get an offseason to work out together, it feels like he's an addition," Brees said of the now-healthy tight end, who has been heavily involved in the off-season workout program. "I look forward to watching him kind of grow within our offense. Lord knows we have plenty of guys to spread the ball around to, but certainly I look to him to be a guy that can make a lot of plays."

And what about the team's other playmakers?

According to Times-Picayune staffer Brian Allee-Walsh, no one was happier than Bush when Saints officials weren't able to orchestrate a deal to get former Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells in the NFL draft.

"The fact that we didn't draft (a running back) speaks volumes to what they are looking from me this year," Bush said last Saturday. "I don't know how much my role is going to change, but I think it's going to step up a lot more, especially in the leadership role position. That obviously, naturally, will increase.

"I'm excited about the task, and it's going to be a great task."

But as Allee-Walsh pointed out, the depth of Bush's role this season will depend largely on his health and how he rebounds from a microfracture procedure performed on his oft-injured left knee last December.

So far, so good, according to Bush, who has missed 10 games the past two seasons because of repeated issues with his left knee.

"I'm feeling really good; I'm about 75 percent," Bush said. "The coaches are pleased with my rehab and the way it's going. I'm pleased. I feel like I'm ahead of schedule. I'm pretty much doing everything right now (in off-season workouts)."

He has, however, worked on a limited basis in this week's round of OTAs.

Nonetheless, the former first-round pick doesn't expect the knee to be an ongoing issue.

"I'm sure I'll be full-go in training camp," he said this week.

Much has been made of the team's running back since McAllister was released in February -- most notably the apparent lack of an every-down or big back on the depth chart to handle short-yardage situations.

Bush and Pierre Thomas shared that role last season, with McAllister getting some carries when healthy.

With McAllister out of the picture, head coach Sean Payton could go to a running back-by-committee approach. The roster includes Mike Bell, Lynell Hamilton, Evans and two undrafted free agent running backs, Herb Donaldson and P.J. Hill.

The fact that general manager Mickey Loomis and Payton were actively trying to acquire Wells in the latter part of the first round strongly suggests team officials are not finished trying to upgrade the position. Indeed, Loomis told FOXSports.com insider Alex Marvez this past week that the team is still considering making a contract offer to Edgerrin James.

"We've spent some time evaluating Edgerrin," Loomis said Tuesday morning. "We think he can still play. We're going to continue to evaluate that and see where it ends up. We haven't made a decision on Edgerrin yet."

As Marvez suggested, James could be a nice fit in New Orleans. He enjoyed a strong finish to the 2008 season, averaging 67.2 rushing yards in Arizona's final five games and started all four postseason contests, including a Super Bowl XLIII loss to Pittsburgh.

Regardless if additions are made, Bush is expected to play a major role in the backfield.

And like Brees, the former first-round pick has high hopes for the offense. In fact, Bush said the Saints' offense has the ability to take on the personality of those prolific St. Louis Rams' offenses known as "The Greatest Show on Turf."

"They weren't necessarily a power-house (running) team, but they still ran the ball effectively," Bush said.

Which is something the Saints are emphasizing during off-season workouts, Bush said.

"You start implementing that now with finishing the little things, like workouts, and film room, and stuff like that," he said. "Then, it carries over to the football field and, in turn, carries over into the games.

"That's one thing we do have to work on is finishing football games. That is something we didn't do last year. We lost a lot of games last year by a few points or a few yards, so we really got to focus down on that and get that done this year. ..."

Worth noting: Perhaps in response to the team's quest for bigger backs, Thomas has added more than 10 pounds of bulk (up to more than 220 pounds) and increased his squats from 495 pounds to 675 pounds in hopes of being the power back the Saints are looking for. ...

One last note here. ... McAllister, 30, said he's looking for a situation where he could play a complementary role and carry the football 10 to 15 times per game.

"I'm still going to play," he said. "I want to play a couple more years."

According to the Associated Press, its' been extremely quiet for McAllister in NFL circles, but he remains confident that he will find an opportunity to emerge as a contributor on a winning team. To do that, however, McAllister, who has torn the ACL in both knees (and had to have his left knee drained on a regular basis last year), will have to prove he's healthy enough to produce.

I suspect that'll be a challenge. ...

In Tennessee. ... Nashville Tennessean columnist Joe Biddle advises readers that off-season evolution is big part of Titans' offense. Indeed, offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger spent considerable time in recent months looking back at last season to find ways the Titans could be more productive moving forward.

Heimerdinger is optimistic he can help the offense improve.

As Biddle notes, every year, an NFL roster turns over somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 percent. That means there will be new personnel to evaluate and mesh with the holdover players.

In the limited time spent with the new rookie class as well as with the veterans and off-season free-agent acquisitions, Heimerdinger and his staff are still in the evaluation process.

"You've got a base and we have base routes that we run," the coach said. "Then as we see what guys can do, then I will start zeroing in on things. Right now we have one route we run with everybody. I found out who can do a good job in timing on it and that will be the guy who runs that."

In addition to putting the offensive personnel in places where they can have optimum performance, Heimerdinger likes to pick up ideas from other teams that have been successful in the league.

"As soon as the season's over, I start watching the top five teams in the red zone, top five teams in third downs, top five offenses," he explained. "I'm like everybody else. I steal from everybody. I want to see what people are doing, see how far away we are on ideas."

Getting back to the personnel, Heimerdinger is excited about Nate Washington, the speedy young wideout who came over from Pittsburgh.

Washington, who signed a $27 million deal with Tennessee in March, took the practice field for the first time with his new teammates during a mini-camp earlier this month. He admits the adjustment from Pittsburgh to Tennessee has been more than just about getting used to a different part of the country.

"It's going to take a lot longer than what I thought. I thought I was just going to be able to step out there and have it happen," Washington said of adjusting to a new offense. "It's a totally different system. Slowly but surely, it's coming. They are taking their time with me, so that's good. But it's going to take some time."

The Titans efforts to upgrade their receiving corps included the acquisition of Washington and former Rutgers receiver Kenny Britt, selected in the first round of last month's draft. The Titans also return Justin Gage, who led the team in receiving yards last season.

As Biddle notes, Heimerdinger doesn't obsess with how experienced a player is.

If a rookie has talent and picks up the offense, Heimerdinger will throw him into the fray. He used former Titans Drew Bennett and Justin McCareins as rookies.

And head coach Jeff Fisher believes Britt will make an immediate impact

"He is ready to come in and play," Fisher said. "I think he'll play earlier for us (than most rookies)."

Still, Britt (already slowed by a sore hamstring in workouts this week) will be afforded a little more time to adjust to the NFL. That being the case, early expectations fall on Washington, who will be called upon to produce early on a team in need of playmakers.

He has averaged 16.4 yards per catch in his career.

"Nate is a veteran guy who is coming into his own," Kerry Collins said. "He has a chance to make a real big impact right away."

Washington, who caught 40 passes for 631 yards and three touchdowns last season, accepts his new role but knows it won't be easy.

"I just hope everybody realizes that it's not going to happen overnight," Washington said. "This is a process and it is not a situation where you come from doing the things you did in Pittsburgh and coming here and doing the same exact things.

"This is a different system, a different offense and a different opportunity here. ..."

Indeed, Heimerdinger is moving him all over the field, trying to determine what Washington is comfortable with, what he can -- or can't -- do.

By training camp, which begins at the end of July, Washington should be up to speed, he said. ...

Meanwhile, Tennessean beat writer Jim Wyatt reports that Chris Johnson's goals are pretty clear heading into his second season.

"I want to be NFL MVP, and lead the league in rushing," the second-year running back said. "I want to be named to another Pro Bowl. I like to set my goals high and everything is possible."

Heimerdinger seems to agree with that last angle.

As previously reported, the coach wants to put Johnson to work even more this fall. That could mean more carries and more catches, but also more creative ways to get them.

"There's places we can move him, routes we can run with him, looks we can do with him that we held back last year because I thought I was stretching him too much," Heimerdinger explained. "But C.J. needs to show he can do those things and he'll work at it. And the more he shows the more we can give him.

"If C.J. wants to learn it and work at it then we have a chance to move him all around the place."

A first-round pick last year, Johnson rushed for 1,228 yards and nine touchdowns. He also caught 43 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown. His 1,488 yards from scrimmage ranked fifth in the AFC. He had 21 plays of 15 yards or more.

The Titans think he can do more and Johnson said he's up for the challenge. He made it clear he wants the ball as many times as possible.

"I tell Dinger, he knows I want the ball more," Johnson said. "That's his decision. He has to put the plays in. I can't put my own plays in. Whatever they throw at me I am ready. Whatever they've got for me I can do it."

From the Titans' perspective, the list of what "they've got for him" includes improving in blitz pick-up and recognizing defenses faster.

"I want to see more leadership from him in the huddle," running backs coach Earnest Byner said.

"But I think C.J. will take from what he did last year and things will slow down. In my mind, the playoff game was an indication of where he could go. (The Ravens) couldn't hardly touch him."

Of course, with his sub-4.3 speed, once Johnson breaks free, there aren't very many people in the game capable of touching him. ...

In San Francisco. ... Michael Crabtree's arrival in San Francisco could be taken as a sign the team lacks confidence in their current batch of young wideouts -- a group that includes Josh Morgan, Jason Hill and Dominique Zeigler.

But according to San Francisco Chronicle staffer Gwen Knapp, the returning receivers have no complaints. In fact, Morgan told Knapp he "practically salivated" at the thought of opposing defenses distracted by the collegiate superstar.

"More room for me," the second-year receiver said Monday after a voluntary workout at team headquarters.

While Crabtree's arrival has the potential to threaten all three young teammates -- their places on the roster, playing time and balls thrown their way -- Knapp believes the addition also transforms them as a group, giving the 49ers more youthful depth and talent than they've had in some time.

And with veterans Isaac Bruce and Arnaz Battle exercising their prerogatives to skip the voluntary workouts this past week -- and with Crabtree still recovering from foot surgery performed in March -- Morgan, Hill and Zeigler (all under 25) get some quality time to make the transition to new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye.

According to Knapp, if Hill can add "sophisticated nuances" to his routes, his speed and ability to shift gears could become valuable assets for the 49ers. Knapp added that Morgan already has shown a real presence on the field; he simply has to stay healthy.

Zeigler is a lesser-known commodity. Knapp believes that Crabtree's presence will make it only easier for Zeigler to be overlooked.

I believe Crabtree's presence will make it much harder for Zeigler to make the roster. ...

Meanwhile, as Chronicle staffer Kevin Lynch recently opined, Bruce remains the most likely starter at the "Z" or flanker spot this fall. Morgan and Crabtree will compete for the starting "X" (split end) role this summer.

The winner of that competition is by no means a foregone conclusion. As Lynch put it: "Morgan could be special and shouldn't be crowded out by higher-paid players. ..."

Others? Lynch isn't sure former Titan Brandon Jones would have been signed if the team had known they would be able to land Crabtree. Jones spent most of the previous five seasons as a backup on a team not known for its receivers.

He will compete with Bruce for the starter's job but could easily slide down to the fourth option.

That leaves Hill, Battle and Zeigler battling for roster spots. Lynch believes Hill wouldn't mind getting released because it would give him a chance to move on to a team that might have a better opening. ...

Of course, the fortunes of those wideouts who make the team will depend greatly on the team's quarterback.

When asked about his quarterbacks after last week's initial workout, head coach Mike Singletary said they aren't so much competing against each other as they are competing against the rest of the quarterbacks in the league.

It's an interesting comment, and Lynch believes it could mean that in Singletary's mind, the quarterback competition is over and Shaun Hill is his starter.

When asked about Alex Smith, Singletary said he thought he was healthy but rusty.

Santa Rosa Press-Democrat staffer Matt Maiocco advised readers that Hill was probably a shade more accurate on his passes in initial workout but Smith was throwing the ball pretty well.

Asked specifically if his troublesome throwing shoulder was full go, Smith didn't hedge.

"Yeah. Absolutely. No question," he said. "I feel really good. I don't feel like there's many throws on the field I can't make right now. ..."

Also of interest. ... Frank Gore told reporters his late-season ankle injury is "feeling better." He also says that he hasn't been told of any plans to reduce his workload next season.

In case you missed it, general manager Scot McCloughan strongly hinted several times during the offseason that the Niners would be looking for a complimentary back alongside Gore. The team used a third-round pick to select Alabama running back Glen Coffee.

But the possibility of a diminished role was news to Gore.

"I haven't heard that we're going to take some of the load off of me," Gore said. "I know the coach has been telling me that I have to be in tip-top shape and I have to be ready to take the load, and that's what I'm going to do. ..."

I agree. A healthy Gore will be very busy this fall.

Still, it's worth noting that Coffee was impressive during the team's rookie mini-camp earlier this month. According to Pro Football Weekly's Dan Arkush, Coffee, a determined-looking running back who has been compared by more than a few evaluators to fellow Alabama grad and 2005 NFL MVP Shaun Alexander, made a very strong impression.

"Coffee looked really good, really quick," a team source told Arkush. "He runs with a real desperation, much bigger than his size (6-0, 209), kind of like a young Gore. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to run like he did at Alabama, but you really have to like the way he carries himself."

For the record, Coffee gained 1,383 yards and scored 10 touchdowns last season to help the Tide reach the Sugar Bowl. ... He might be worth watching as potential handcuff material. ...

In Houston. ... As AP sports writer Kristie Rieken reminded readers this week, Steve Slaton wasn't expected to be much more than a third-down back for the Texans.

A breakout rookie season changed all that for the former third-round draft pick and cemented Slaton's status as Houston's starting running back.

Now the Texans are waiting to see what he'll do next -- and are counting on him to be even better in 2009.

"I put some pressure on him," head coach Gary Kubiak said Tuesday. "I think he's got to be one of the most improved players. ... If Steve goes and gets better our football team's going to be better."

Slaton was one of the keys in an offense that ranked third in total yardage last season. He was the team's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2004 and his 1,284 yards led a talented group of rookies.

Slaton finished the season with five 100-yard games, a 4.8 yards-per-carry average and nine touchdowns.

After a year of exceeding expectations, Slaton anticipates facing much higher standards this season. He said Kubiak's support from the start helped increase his confidence and made starting last season less daunting.

He, too, is expecting more this season.

"The one thing is you just got to keep improving," Slaton said. "There's always something you can do. You can never reach a point where you can rest. You've got to always get better."

One of those little things the Texans hope Slaton can improve on this year is his pass protection. He wasn't asked to do much of that in college and his smaller stature makes it his most difficult task.

"I feel like I can do better," he told Rieken. "I feel like that's always something I'm going to have to work on."

The Texans lack depth at running back after failing to add one in either free agency or the draft. They released Green this offseason after he spent the majority of his two seasons with the team on injured reserve.

Kubiak said Tuesday that Ryan Moats and Chris Brown will compete to back up Slaton. As noted in a previous Notebook, Brown was expected to be Houston's backup last season, but sustained a back injury and never appeared in a game.

He's healthy now, but Kubiak is waiting to see how he holds up. At 6-3, Brown is much bigger than Houston's other backs but Kubiak said size won't be the determining factor in who will be the Texans' second option at the position.

Meanwhile, the team's official web site reports the 5-9 Slaton, who tipped the scales at 201 last year, has gained about nine pounds of muscle this off-season.

"You know, I had a little problem with third-and-short, and that'll hopefully help me move a little bit more pile," Slaton said. "I'm out here now working with this and I feel good, and hopefully in training camp I can slim down to the place I need to be. ..."

In a related note. ... Houston Chronicle beat writer Megan Manfull points out that Andre Johnson had injury problems to worry about last offseason, but entered this year's OTAs with no health issues. And Matt Schaub jogged on the field free of the knee brace he wore the final month of last season.

This year, Johnson and Schaub hope to stay healthy together so they can get off to a faster start than they did a year ago when the team opened with four losses.

A full offseason of work should serve them well.

As Manfull suggested, Schaub plans to rely often on Johnson, who had a career-best 1,575 receiving yards last season and eight touchdowns. Schaub posted career numbers last season, passing for 3,043 yards. He threw 15 touchdown passes and rushed for two but threw 10 interceptions.

Schaub and Johnson welcome the challenge of building on what they began last year. And they are focused on taking the franchise to the next level -- together.

"Andre starts everything off," Schaub said. "Everything is going to go through him. Then we're going to work Kevin [Walter] and Owen [Daniels] and [Slaton] in there. If we can just keep moving forward, we're going to be good. ..."

Moving on to some follow-ups to previous Notebooks. ...

In Cincinnati. ... During a Tuesday appearance on Sirius NFL Radio, Carson Palmer issued his strongest criticism yet about the absence of Chad Ochocinco.

"It‘s definitely a new look for the Bengals receiver corps but I couldn't be happier with the guys we've got," Palmer said. "[T.J. Houshmandzadeh is] gone and Chad's pretty much gone, he hasn't been here, so we've got guys that want those two spots. ... They look every bit capable of doing what we're going to ask them to do."

When asked what his expectations about Ochocinco this season were, Palmer said: "Well, I really don't know. I haven't talked to him. I haven't talked to anybody that has talked to him. He wasn't here last year so I'm expecting him not to be here at all this year.

"Last year I think he was here for the mandatory camp but didn't participate in it. So I'm planning on him not being here just because he hasn't been here yet so we'll prepare, like I said."

Palmer added: "We've got Chris Henry. ... He's a guy that's had a great offseason, really turned his life around. I'm excited to watch him play. He's a guy that seems like he catches a touchdown every other ball that's thrown to him, he's that explosive.

"He's kind of taken over for Chad's position and he's a guy that, like I said earlier, does not want to give up that spot right now."

As Cincinnati Enquirer staffer Joe Reedy noted, Palmer has repeatedly said during the conditioning drills that he was only concerned about the players who were in Cincinnati.

Ochocinco is reportedly training in Los Angeles and is expected to be at the mandatory mini-camp June 18-20.

Meanwhile, team officials have been saying Palmer's right elbow is ready to go for so long now that it's not even the top storyline. He figures his pitch count of 150 to 180 balls is what he would throw in a typical spring workout that lasts for about an hour and 50 minutes.

As for this week's workouts?

So far, so good. According to Reedy, Palmer made a couple of nice tosses -- including a 50 yarder to Henry -- on his first day out. ...

In Cleveland. ... Brady Quinn took reps with the first team this week at head coach Eric Mangini's first voluntary mini-camp.

"That's because he's done a really outstanding job in the off-season program," Mangini said on Thursday. "Not that Derek [Anderson] hasn't done well, but [Quinn] had the edge so he took the first reps. There's no overwhelming significance to that."

According to Cleveland Plain Dealer beat man Tony Grossi, Mangini said Browns coaches will track "everything" the quarterbacks do during this open competition for the starting job. Mangini has said he has no timetable in naming his starter for the 2009 season.

But as reported in last weekend's Notebook, at least one observer felt already Quinn should be considered the early favorite.

That view gains some credence with this latest development. ...

Also in Cleveland. ... The Miami-Dade State attorney's office has delayed Donte' Stallworth's arraignment on DUI manslaughter charges until Jun. 4, a source said Thursday. Stallworth was set to be arraigned today in Miami-Dade Circuit Court. The State Attorney's office sought the delay to continue its investigation.

Stallworth faces four to 15 years in prison if convicted of DUI manslaughter in connection with the death of a pedestrian. Stallworth's attorneys are believed to be still working on reducing the charges.

Indeed, Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole, citing unnamed NFL sources, Stallworth's jail time could be only a matter of two or three months. Beyond that, Stallworth could play this season, a source told Cole. ...

Meanwhile, Stallworth is training in Miami and not participating in this week's mini-camp. ...

In Minnesota. ... Adrian Peterson, who expressed a desire to add seven to 12 pounds this offseason, said this week that he's currently at 216 or 217 pounds. His weight at the end of last season was 217.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Peterson said he still would like to get to 225 pounds -- something Childress doesn't view as an especially good idea. ...

In Dallas. ... The Cowboys' official web site reports that Roy Williams is targeting is 212 as his playing weight this season. The receiver said he plans on dropping about six pounds from his current weight of 218, where he played last season.

Also. ... Felix Jones looked back to full strength, recovering from toe and hamstring injuries that limited him to just six games during his rookie season.

And finally this week, from our "Act Like You've Been There" file. ... It was more than 10 years ago that a former Georgia Bulldogs running back invented an iconic touchdown celebration in Denver.

Well, get ready for the next generation.

According to the Denver Post, Knowshon Moreno, the Broncos' newest tailback, already has bested his fellow NFL rookies by winning a touchdown celebration contest last weekend at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

From a Fantasy perspective I would suggest the number of celebrations will be much more important than the style. This is definitely a case where I'll go with quantity over quality. ...

For what it's worth, Post staffer Lindsay H. Jones advised readers there's no word on if Moreno incorporated a Mile High Salute, a la Terrell Davis. ...

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.